Presented by Veriff
Americans struggle to differentiate between real and AI-generated content, posing a significant challenge for businesses relying on online identity verification.
Recent research reveals that despite awareness of deepfakes, people’s ability to recognize them is only slightly better than chance. A study conducted by Veriff and Kantar in 2026 among 3,000 participants in the US, UK, and Brazil shows that Americans scored just 0.07 on a scale where 0 represents random guessing.
If individuals cannot discern authentic visual content, they also struggle to confirm genuine identities. This lack of distinction poses a threat to digital businesses using image- and video-based identity verification for various purposes such as bank onboarding, account recovery, ecommerce transactions, and more.
In the US, synthetic identity fraud leads to substantial annual losses, highlighting the accessibility of tools to create convincing fakes.
The report identifies a small but high-risk group representing approximately 7% of users who perform poorly in detecting deepfakes yet remain confident in their abilities. This cohort is susceptible to fraud, emphasizing the need for robust identity verification systems.
With the rise of AI-generated content, traditional visual inspection is no longer sufficient for security. Businesses must invest in automated verification technologies to combat fraudulent activities.
The US Lags in Deepfake Awareness
Despite being a hub for AI development, American consumers exhibit the lowest familiarity with deepfakes among the surveyed markets. This lack of awareness increases the risk of encountering fraudulent content without verification.
Challenges in Identifying Deepfakes
Consumer ability to distinguish real from fake content is inconsistent, especially with video material. This uncertainty underscores the need for advanced verification methods beyond human judgment.
Risks of Overconfidence in Detection
Many US respondents express confidence in identifying deepfakes, yet their actual performance contradicts this belief. This overconfidence creates vulnerabilities that fraudsters can exploit.
Importance of Automated Identity Verification
Manual verification processes are no longer sufficient in an era of sophisticated deepfakes. Businesses must adopt AI-powered verification systems to enhance security and trust.
Enhancing Security with Automated Verification
Automated identity verification offers a proactive solution to the challenges posed by deepfakes. By integrating AI technologies, organizations can strengthen their verification infrastructure and protect against fraudulent activities.
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