Majority of Singaporeans Struggle to Identify Deepfake Content: Cyber Security Survey

The prevalence of generative artificial intelligence tools have made it easier to create fake content to scam unsuspecting victims.

Only one in four people in Singapore can distinguish between deepfake and legitimate videos, despite most feeling confident they can do so, according to a survey by the Cyber Security Agency (CSA) of Singapore.

The survey, conducted in 2024, included questions on deepfakes for the first time, given the rise of AI tools enabling the creation of fake content for scams.

1,050 respondents aged 15 and above were polled on their attitudes towards cyber incidents, mobile security, and cyber hygiene practices. While nearly 80% felt confident in identifying deepfakes, only 25% could actually differentiate between deepfake and legitimate videos.

CSA's CEO, David Koh, emphasized the need for vigilance against new scam tactics and advised checking with trusted sources before taking action to prevent falling victim to cyber crimes.

More people in 2024 were aware of phishing compared to 2022, but only 13% could correctly identify phishing attempts when tested.

The survey also showed an increase in the installation of security apps and adoption of two-factor authentication (2FA). 63% had security apps installed in 2024, up from 50% in 2022, and 2FA usage rose from 35% to 41%.

Respondents' acceptance of mobile device updates increased, with only 3% choosing not to update, down from 4% in 2022. Updates are crucial for fixing software vulnerabilities.

While cyber incidents affected 25% of respondents in 2024, down from 30% in 2022, concerns about device compromise and falling for online scams decreased slightly. However, many still felt at risk of IoT device hacking, with only 27% knowing how to secure such devices.

CSA plans to launch its sixth National Cybersecurity Campaign in September, focusing on security practices like installing apps, enabling 2FA, and updating software regularly.