KUCHING: Familiar faces in online advertisements are no longer a guarantee of authenticity, as artificial intelligence (AI) manipulation blurs the line between real and fake.
The rise of such technology has given scammers the tools to create convincing deepfake videos and fake ads, which raised concerns over how easily trust can be manipulated in the digital age.
International Legacy Education Foundation founding chairman Wynson Ong Teck Ping said this following a recent incident where a local influencer’s likeness and livestream video was misused without her consent to promote an online gambling website.
“This is not just about personal reputation. It is an issue of cybersecurity and societal integrity.
“The public must learn to distinguish fake content and avoid falling for online advertisements, especially those promoting investments and gambling,” he said.
Ong also called for greater public awareness of AI-generated content, and urged technology companies and social media platforms to strengthen their content moderation and ad screening systems.
“With rapid development of AI, scammers are becoming more sophisticated. However, most people are still not equipped with the knowledge to spot fake content, which puts them at risk,” he said.
To help address this gap, the foundation will organise a series of public awareness programmes and seminars focused on technology, AI, and cybersecurity.
Ong said the goal is to improve digital literacy and empower Malaysians to better protect themselves in the evolving digital landscape.
