Deepfaked sensor streams

Militaries have long used devices called "pseudolites" to jam or spoof GPS signals. Now, concerns are growing about the potential for deepfake technology to produce false satellite imagery are growing. A recent study by researchers at the University of Washington demonstrated techniques for creating and detecting AI-generated satellite imagery—a scenario that military planners have feared for some time. As the writer notes, the perceived expense of generating satellite imagery often leads observers to infer it is authentic, making the challenge of faking it somewhat easier.

This points towards a future in which new standards, protocols, and registries for validating the authenticity of sensor data will be a critical part of ensuring that urban data streams are trustworthy.