Deepfakes have become a potent tool for spreading political misinformation, particularly during election campaigns and critical decision-making periods. According to Juefei-Xu and other colleagues (2022), deepfake videos manipulate public perception and undermine trust in authentic leaders. By exploiting the rapid spread of content on social media such fabricated videos create confusion among voters, influence political discourse, and potentially alter election outcomes. For instance, Westerlund notes that even when deepfakes are debunked (2019), the initial damage to public trust often persists. This erosion of confidence in credible information poses long-term risks to democratic processes and governance.

Sunkari and Srinagesh explain how viral deepfake content on platforms like X or TikTok can trigger social unrest or amplify existing divisions within communities (2024). These forms of media create alarming incidents that increases tensions among groups. According to Kira (2024), a lecturer at the University of Sussex, adds that deepfake misinformation targeting vulnerable populations can lead to real-world consequences. The speed and reach of social media further worsen these effects, making it challenging distinguish what is real news or misinformation.

Culturally, deepfakes undermine the authenticity of historical records, art, and cultural narratives by distorting their representation online. Romero Moreno highlights how generative AI deepfake technology enables the falsification of cultural figures or historical events (2024), creating false narratives that spread rapidly and become ingrained in public memory. Additionally, Ziegler emphasized that the growth of this manner of content can damage trust in cultural documentation (2021), weakening society's collective understanding of history and shared values.