CYBERSECURITY CHALLENGES IN LIVE STREAMING: PROTECTING DIGITAL ANCHORS F ROM DEEPFAKE AND IDENTITY THEFT

Live streaming has emerged as a powerful medium for content creation, social interaction, and digital broadcasting. However, its rapid growth has introduced severe cybersecurity threats, particularly deepfake technology and identity theft. Deepfakes, powered by artificial intelligence, enable malicious actors to manipulate orimpersonate digital anchors in real time, leading to misinformation, reputational damage, and fraud. Identity theft in live streaming further exacerbates these risks, as unauthorized access to personal data and account takeovers compromises the security of content creators and audiences alike. This paper explores the multifaceted cybersecurity challenges faced by live streamers, emphasizing the growing sophistication of deepfake attacks and identity fraud. The study also examines vulnerabilities in live streaming platforms, including weak authentication protocols, lack of real-time deepfake detection, and the risks associated with biometric data breaches. Existing countermeasures, such as AI-driven deepfake detection, blockchain-based identity verification, and multi-factor authentication, are analyzed for their effectiveness in mitigating these risks. Additionally, this paper highlights regulatory efforts and ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI in content creation. The findings suggest that a multi-layered cybersecurity framework is essential for protecting digital anchors from evolving threats. This includes integrating real-time AI monitoring, enhancing platform security policies, and fostering collaboration between cybersecurity experts and streaming service providers. Strengthening cybersecurity in live streaming is crucial not only for preserving digital identities but also for maintaining audience trust and the overall integrity of online content dissemination.