ディープフェイク

• Reading: ディープフェイク
• Romaji: diipufeiku
• Pronunciation: /diː.pu.ɸe.i.ku/

Meaning

Deepfake — AI-generated fake media, especially manipulated video or audio that makes someone appear to say or do something they never did.

Borrowed from English 'deepfake' (deep learning + fake), this term describes AI-manipulated media that is increasingly difficult to distinguish from reality. In Japan, awareness grew particularly around concerns about celebrity and politician deepfakes, as well as non-consensual intimate imagery. The term carries strongly negative connotations and is primarily used when discussing the dangers of this technology.

Examples

1. ディープフェイクの動画がリアルすぎて見分けがつかない。 Deepfake videos are so realistic now that you can't even tell the difference.
2. 有名人のディープフェイクが問題になってるよね。 Celebrity deepfakes have been becoming a real problem, haven't they?
3. ディープフェイク対策の技術開発が急がれてる。 The development of anti-deepfake technology is being urgently pushed forward.

Usage Guide

Context: news, tech discussion, social awareness

Tone: cautionary, serious

Do Say

• この動画ディープフェイクじゃない？ (Isn't this video a deepfake?)
• ディープフェイク見抜く方法知ってる？ (Do you know how to spot a deepfake?)

Don't Say

• ディープフェイクを面白半分で作成・拡散するのは法的問題になる可能性がある (Creating or sharing deepfakes for fun could lead to legal trouble)

Common Mistakes

• Using ディープフェイク loosely for any edited photo — it specifically refers to AI-generated synthetic media

Origin & History

Loanword from English 'deepfake' (blend of 'deep learning' and 'fake'). The concept gained global attention around 2017-2018 and entered Japanese media vocabulary shortly after.

Cultural Context

Era: 2017-2018 global emergence, growing awareness in Japan

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal awareness

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Japanese law has been evolving to address deepfake-related issues.