The Deepfake Dilemma by Áine Macdermott

The Deepfake Dilemma by Áine Macdermott

Deepfakes are no longer a future threat, they are an operational reality.

The Deepfake Dilemma: Technology, Truth, and Forensic Integrity is a vital resource for professionals navigating the complex intersection of synthetic media, digital evidence, and investigative integrity. As deepfake technologies become increasingly sophisticated, accessible, and difficult to detect, their implications for criminal justice, legal accountability, and public trust are profound.

Unlike general-interest books that focus on the cultural novelty or sensational impact of deepfakes, The Deepfake Dilemma takes a forensic-centred, practitioner-focused approach. Written specifically for law enforcement officers, digital forensic analysts, legal professionals, and cybersecurity practitioners, this book delivers a structured, evidence-driven examination of how deepfakes are created, how they are detected, and how they are being weaponised in real-world criminal and investigative contexts.

With deepfake-enabled crimes (ranging from identity fraud and extortion to disinformation and evidential manipulation) reported to have increased dramatically since 2019, the need for practical investigative frameworks has never been more urgent. This book meets that need head-on through detailed case studies, forensic workflows, and applied methodologies grounded in professional practice.

Readers will learn how to:

• Detect and analyse synthetic media using both algorithmic and digital forensic techniques.
• Assess the credibility, provenance, and admissibility of digital media evidence.
• Apply investigative strategies to mitigate deepfake risks in criminal, legal, and organisational settings
• Navigate the legal and ethical challenges posed by synthetic media, including evidentiary uncertainty and privacy concerns

By bridging the gap between technical complexity and real-world application, The Deepfake Dilemma equips professionals with the tools and critical insight needed to safeguard evidential integrity in an era where seeing is no longer believing. Whether you are a digital investigator, legal practitioner, cybersecurity professional, or policymaker, this book is an indispensable guide to confronting the deepfake threat and defending truth in the age of synthetic media.

Dr Áine MacDermott is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer Science and Mathematics, at Liverpool John Moores University, specialising in digital forensics and cyber security. With over 14 years of research experience, Dr MacDermott has conducted impactful research-informed teaching involving forensic evidence handling and methodologies, IoT and smart devices, cyber security of IoT, and currently the analysis of fabricated media. Dr MacDermott holds a PhD in Network Security) and BSc (Hons) in Computer Forensics and is passionate about educating the next generation of forensics professionals on the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies like deepfakes. With over 50 publications to date, Dr MacDermott continues to contribute significantly to the fields of cyber security and digital forensics.

Dr MacDermott is a recognised expert in the intersection of cyber security and digital forensics of IoT devices and has spoken at numerous industry conferences and workshops. In addition to her academic roles, Dr. MacDermott has been an Adjunct Professor at Ontario Tech University since 2020. She actively engages in public outreach and education, organising workshops such as a 'Deepfake Forensics' event at LJMU in 2023, which brought together professionals from academia and law enforcement to address challenges posed by AI-generated media.

She collaborates with external partners, including the Merseyside Police, Zayed University (Dubai) and Ontario Tech University (Canada), where she serves as a visiting lecturer. Her commitment to bridging academia and industry is further demonstrated by her contributions to national policy discussions; notably, she provided written expert testimony to the UK Parliament's Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee on the impact of social media algorithms in spreading disinformation.