Bivas Chatterjee is the Public Prosecutor for Cyber Law and Electronics Evidence for West Bengal.
What is Artificial
Intelligence?
Simply put, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a technology possessing the same cognitive human abilities similar to humans. It can think, act, and make decisions like us.
The Journey
We travelled from enigma machine in 2nd world war era to these days’ AI. AI has both the possibilities for good as well as can be used for evil purposes. AI is our next master. We are in a juncture where we are handing over control of our life to our next super human, of course made by men. It has already become more intelligent than ordinary human being.
The development from the Enigma machine of the Second World War era to the present AI represents a remarkable journey in human technological advancement. AI indeed holds tremendous potential that has beneficial and detrimental outcomes. We are at a critical juncture where control of our lives is increasingly handed over to AI, a machine, ironically created by humans, but has evidently surpassed ordinary human intelligence.
Why Worry?
Much like other innovations, Artificial Intelligence has positive and negative repercussions. However, the primary issue is not with AI itself, but the competitive greed and drive that lead people to develop it for detrimental purposes. For instance, Deepfake technology can impersonate individuals – be it a common man or a high-profile individual – so convincingly that it has become almost impossible to differentiate between the original and deepfake. Another example is the invention of ChatGPT. Within two months of its existence, it was downloaded by more than 100 million people worldwide. AI’s rapid adoption underscores its potential to provide swift and resourceful assistance while also raising concerns about its misuse and impact on society.
Weaponising AI for Criminal Activities
The rise of AI scams is a concerning trend. One can be randomly targeted through a phone call or be threatened with manipulated videos or voice recordings of their loved ones for the evil intent of seeking a ransom. A notable incident occurred in the USA whereby a false kidnapping attempt was planned to extort millions of dollars by replicating the daughter’s voice. The increase of deepfakes, particularly pornographic material, draws attention to the dangers of AI misuse.
AI-generated art are already posing a serious challenge to artists and creators. The latest version of ChatGPT (ChatGPT-4) is estimated to have an IQ of 155, almost equalling renowned scientist Einstein’s IQ of 160. With AI capabilities continuing to show no sign of slowing down, but is surpassing human brain speed by thousands of times, there is growing uneasiness about the high cost of a global destruction driven by human greed.
Role of AI in
Investigations
Predictive Policing:
Suitable search engine can predict the probable solution of investigation and prevention of crimes, crime analysis and solution by using the data which are fed in AI. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the potential for discrimination in such systems.
By applying appropriate AI powered analysis, the following parameters of effective policing can be done.
Forecasting:
i) Time and place where crime is on the rise.
ii) A group of people likely to be victims or perpetrators.
iii) Predictive individuals who may be victims, namely senior citizens, etc.
iv) Predictive individuals who may be involved in criminal activities
CCTNS data can help in better crime prediction if used with proper AI algorithm.
Data analysis plays a crucial role in predictive policing initiatives such as the surveillance matrix in Himachal Pradesh and facial structure analysis at airports to identify fraudsters.
Developed countries have successfully utilised AI technology to revisit old cases, resulting in solving old, cold and unsolved crimes.
AI can be used for forensic purposes as well. Recent GSR analysis of crime scenes in the UK has proven that AI will solve many unsolved criminal cases in the future.
AI-Driven Crimes
The rise of AI poses a significant threat to human superiority, deepfake videos and cloned voices are just some of the basic examples of what this technology can do to destroy us.
Cyber criminals are increasingly using AI to commit crimes. Let us examine some of them.
1) Cloned voices used to generate fake audio can be used to defraud people.
2) Cloned video or audio may be used in the commission of crimes.
3) Deepfake technology can be used to commit crimes or scam people.
4) AI-powered surveillance can cause great harm on individual privacy and safety. Surveillance data at the hand of fraudsters can cause huge damage to a person.
5) Manipulation of human behavioural by AI-engineered algorithm is a growing threat in political or advertising arenas.
6) Piracy and plagiarism-related offences.
7) Gender bias.
8) Automated hacking tools powered by AI to commit crime.
9) Manipulation in financial market by AI algorithm, especially in high frequency trading.
10) Spread of misleading information in every aspect of society, including the trading and financial industry.
11) Ethical concerns on autonomous weapon systems powered by AI and AI-powered military systems.
12) AI-powered social engineering (use of manipulative or deceptive tactics to entice unwitting victims to do something they won’t normally do) by manipulating human behaviour resulting into their victimisation. Personal data using AI can make social engineering more powerful.
13) AI-based malware threatens digital system.
14) AI-based propaganda to influence public opinion.
Few Examples of AI-
Enabled Frauds
1) A 15-year-old girl on a skiing holiday had her voice replicated by fraudsters, who then called her parents demanding a ransom of one million dollars. Despite the voice sounding just like her, it was AI-generated. The parents later came to know that their daughter was not in the custody of the kidnappers.
2) An elderly person in Ghaziabad was duped Rs, 74,000 by fraudsters who used deepfake to impersonate a former police officer, who called the elderly man asking him for money.
3) A man in Lucknow lost Rs. 45,000 when he was duped by a fake voice using AI, which impersonated his relative’s voice.
4) A woman in Noida was cheated of Rs. 11 Lakhs when she underwent a fabricated interrogation through Skype in connection with a money laundering case.
5) A person from Kerala was cheated to the tune of Rs. 40,0000 due to an AI-enabled deepfake scam with a false plea that his relative is in hospital and needed help.
6) An elderly person from Delhi was cheated of Rs 50,000 through a voice cloning fraud
7) As reported in the South China Morning Post, a company was duped a staggering Rs 200 Crores by a fake video call impersonating the CFO by using using deepfake technology.
8) Recently, American popstar Taylor Swift also became a victim of the malicious deepfake when vulgar videos of her were posted on various social media platforms.
Legal Acts and Regulations Related to Artificial
Intelligence (AI)
- The European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) enacted on March 13, 2024.
- The European Parliament’s Ethical Principles Framework on AI development, deployment, and use.
- Various States in the USA, namely Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, have passed laws related to AI.
- The United States National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Task Force Act, passed on March 2024.
- Singapore’s Model AI Governance Framework.
- Canada’s Directive on Automated Decision-Making, to ensure whether AI systems are fair, unbiased, and respect human rights.
- Japan’s AI Utilisation Promotion Act.
- The Indian Government issued an advisory to social media platforms or intermediaries to identify and remove misinformation and deepfakes within 36 hours of reporting.
The Need of the Hour
AI security will be the need of the hour in the near future.
Immediate control on AI-engineered application with respect to their ethical as well as legal aspect affecting human mankind.
