008: deepfakes detective: truth, trickery, and digital evidence (ks4)
A KS4 Computer Science lesson on Deepfakes, GANs, and digital ethics. Students act as forensic analysts to detect synthetic media.
Investigation: The Synthetic Reality
The Scenario
You have been recruited by the Digital Verification Unit of a major news agency. The internet is flooded with "synthetic media"—videos and images generated by AI that look frighteningly real. Your agency needs to train its journalists to spot these fakes before they publish false stories. Your job is to research the technology behind Deepfakes and create a Verification Advisory Report.
The Persona
As The Responsible Innovator, you are the conscience of the tech world. You don't just ask "Can we build it?"; you ask "What are the consequences?". You champion truth and digital integrity.
You have been recruited by the Digital Verification Unit of a major news agency. The internet is flooded with "synthetic media"—videos and images generated by AI that look frighteningly real. Your agency needs to train its journalists to spot these fakes before they publish false stories. Your job is to research the technology behind Deepfakes and create a Verification Advisory Report.
As The Responsible Innovator, you are the conscience of the tech world. You don't just ask "Can we build it?"; you ask "What are the consequences?". You champion truth and digital integrity.
1
Research the Technology
Open a browser and research Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs).
Find out what the Generator does and what the Discriminator does.
In your document, write a clear, technical paragraph explaining how two AI models "fight" each other to create realistic fake images.
2
Analyse the Glitches
Deepfakes are not yet perfect. Search for "How to spot a deepfake".
Look for information on:
Unnatural Blinking (or lack of it).
Lip Syncing issues.
Lighting/Shadow inconsistencies on the face vs. the background.
Digital Artifacts around the edges of the face.
Create a section in your report titled "Visual Evidence Analysis" listing at least 4 signs of a fake.
3
The Ethical Impact
Research a real-world example where deepfakes have been used (e.g., political misinformation, financial scams, or celebrity identity theft).
Write a section titled "Societal Impact". Answer this question: "If we can no longer trust video evidence, how does this affect our legal system and democracy?"
4
Compile the Advisory
Ensure your report is professional and formatted for journalists to read quickly.
Include images (screenshots) labeled with arrows pointing out potential flaws (e.g., "Note the blurred hairline").
Save your work as Advisory_YourName.
Outcome
A definition of GANs and how they function.
A checklist of at least 4 visual signs of deepfake manipulation.
A case study or example of malicious use.
A critical reflection on the erosion of trust in society.
Last modified: January 9th, 2026
