NAB Show 2019 in Las Vegas: Reliably detect editing traces in audio material

Deepfakes are manipulations of audio-visual material that are realistic enough to be undetectable by humans. In order to reveal them, automatic analysis methods are needed, which can detect very subtle traces of modifications with the respective material. At the NAB Show, which takes place in Las Vegas from April 8 to 11, 2019, the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT will present its audio forensics toolkit for reliably detecting and localizing editing in audio material.

© Fraunhofer IDMT
Fraunhofer IDMT's Audioforensics Toolbox may help journalists to detect deepfakes even more reliably and quickly.

The topic of deepfake and the dangers it poses for individuals, but also for companies, are currently a major topic in the media. Identity theft, blackmailing, political scandals – the potential consequences are far-reaching, expensive and dangerous. Just before the NAB Show 2019, Deutsche Welle, Athens Technology Center SA and Fraunhofer IDMT launched the joint research project "Digger".

One of the aims of the project is to extend the web-based verification platform Truly.Media, which was developed by Deutsche Welle and Athens Technology Center, with Fraunhofer IDMT’s audio forensics technologies. With this digital "detective toolkit", journalists are able to carry out joint analysis to identify fake material. The project is financed by the Google News Initiative.

Searching for traces

The recording and editing of audio data, such as encoding and editing, leaves subtle but characteristic traces within the material. The audio forensics software detects and analyzes these traces to determine whether a recording was edited, which processing steps were performed upon material, and from which device type the audio recordings probably stem from.

Beyond these tools, Fraunhofer IDMT also demonstrates several other technologies at the Fraunhofer booth (SU4816) in the South Hall (upper), including further content analysis and AI tools for media asset management, media production and media archives.

Visit us from April 8 to 11 at the Fraunhofer joint booth in the South Hall (upper), booth SU4816 and learn more about the newly launched project "Digger" and the technologies offered by Fraunhofer IDMT, to fully exploit the potential of your content.

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