Do No Harm: Designing Interventions for Deepfake-Fueled Conspiracy Theories

production technologies.As far back as the first moon landing, conspiracies referenced Hollywood's visual effects advancements of the time (e.g., Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey).More recently, conspiracy theories claimed that the Sandy Hook school shooting and the murder of George Floyd were carried out by paid actors and faked by using video production tools.There are also popular conspiracy theories that similarly argue professional body doubles and actors have replaced individuals such as Melania Trump and Avril Lavigne.The advent of deepfake videos gives agitators engaged in these types of conspiracies a new weapon to Conspiracy theories are a set of explanations about the world where significant (and often negative) events are believed to be orchestrated by clandestine groups.Frequently emerging during periods of tragedy or ambiguity (e.g., the Covid-19 pandemic, the September 11 attacks) conspiracy theories are typically an attempt by individuals to find closure and meaning in these circumstances.This belief system operates as a framework through which individuals seek clear answers, providing them with a structured understanding of how the world functions.The content of conspiracy theories is influenced by advancements in media editing and