REVIEW ON DEEPFAKE TECHNOLOGY AND ITS IMPACT ON SOCIAL LIFE

Abstract

Deepfake technology, which uses advanced artificial intelligence architectures like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), diffusion models, and transformer-based systems to produce highly realistic manipulated audiovisual content, is a major breakthrough in the creation of synthetic media. This study explores the technological development of deepfakes from lab testing to widely available apps, evaluating both their beneficial uses in the fields of entertainment, accessibility,   education as well as its potential for detrimental abuse. This study shows how deepfake proliferation fundamentally challenges conventional assumptions regarding audiovisual evidence reliability and public trust in digital information ecosystems through an analysis of documented cases from 2025 involving corporate fraud exceeding $25 million, political disinformation campaigns, and widespread privacy violations targeting vulnerable populations.The study assesses current detection techniques, such as frequency-domain analysis, multimodal verification systems, and convolutional neural networks, while critically analyzing their limitations in generalizing beyond training datasets in the face of quickly developing generative capabilities. Additionally, this study examines ethical standards and regulatory frameworks that are developing in many jurisdictions, highlighting the need for coordinated worldwide governance structures that strike a balance between the advancement of technology and the defense of individual rights. The results show that integrated strategies combining technological breakthroughs in detection, extensive media literacy programs, cooperative governance standards, and strong legal protections are necessary for effective mitigation. In the end,In order to maintain information integrity in a time of synthetic media, this paper concludes that deepfake technology exhibits dual-use characteristics, where its societal impact is largely dependent on governance mechanisms, ethical deployment practices, and public awareness rather than inherent technological attributes. This calls for ongoing interdisciplinary collaboration.