Deepfakes cause big problems for creators. Realistic, unauthorized, AI-generated representations of public figures enable rampant content piracy while also making it hard for fans to tell reality from friction.
To wage war against the world of deepfakes, Zander Small has co-founded FanLock. That’s the name of an independet platform that will help creators identify, manage, and crack down on AI deepfakes across more than four million websites.
Small, a sketch comedian with more than one million followers on Instagram, developed FanLock to serve the creators who told him that AI deepfakes are impact their careers. In a statement, he noted that deepfakes have been a common topic of discussion at conventions and other industry events. His response is a platform that is “by creators, for creators.”
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“All my creator friends had the same story. Their content was being stolen and redistributed, and the services they were paying for weren’t keeping up,” Small said. “We built FanLock because creators deserve a platform that actually works, built by people who understand the problem because they live in this world.”
Some creators have taken their support for Small’s mission one step further. The adult streamer Morgpie — who previously made headlines for her role in Twitch’s infamous “topless meta” — is on board as a FanLock investor.
Small said that Morgpie told him she was “paying thousands of dollars a month” to deal with deepfaked representations of her likeness. Despite that sizable cost, the platforms in charge of that job “still weren’t getting the job done.”
For years, big-name creators have spoken out about the looming threat of deepfakes. Platforms like YouTube and Instagram have supported solutions that target unauthorized AI facsimiles, but at the same time, they continue to empower bad actors by launching more generative AI services, some of which are built on creator likenesses.
Independent organizations like CAA have taken on the deepfake issue with solutions of their own, but Small believes that FanLock fills in gaps that make other DMCA services less effective. He specifically cited the platform’s oversight of Telegram as a key advantage; the messaging app has earned a reputation as a hotbed for deepfakes.
FanLock’s four-tiered approach to deepfake moderation comes at a cost, with subscription prices starting at $49 per month. When you consider the economic impact of deepfakes, however, that fee is a small price to pay. Deloitte has predicted that AI fraud losses could hit $40 billion by 2027.
If FanLock can truly put a dent in that malicious industry, many other creators will join Morgpie by buying in. New FanLock users can take advantage of a scan that shows them how many deepfaked leaks they’re dealing with.
