Privacy and Security of Text-to-Speech Applications

Issues When Using Artificial Voices for Wrong Purposes

The creation and misuse of fake artificial voices cause serious legal and social consequences:

Creating Fake Content

One of the biggest concerns about the abuse of artificial voice technology is the creation of fake audio clips for fraud and property appropriation. Bad actors can easily mimic the voices of relatives and friends to make scam calls, request money transfers, or entice investment in phantom projects. More dangerously, this technology is also used to infiltrate security systems that use voice authentication, causing serious financial damage.

Spreading Misinformation

Speech synthesis technology is being exploited to create audio clips containing false information, inciting public opinion, and causing community division. The use of fake AI voices impersonating influential figures makes this information even more credible in the eyes of the public. Fake Deepfake calls not only damage the reputation of individuals and organizations but also confuse the community and cause social disorder.

Bad actors use artificial voices to spread misinformation.

Harassment and Abuse

Using text-to-speech technology for harassment and threats is becoming an alarming social problem. Threatening calls and audio messages containing offensive language not only cause mental distress but also affect the daily lives of victims. This is a new form of online harassment, making the prevention and handling of these behaviors more difficult than ever.

Violation of Privacy

Using someone else's voice to create artificial speech without permission is a violation of privacy and personal data protection. According to the law, voice is considered a form of personal data, and its unauthorized use is a legal violation. This behavior not only affects the honor and dignity of individuals but also leads to serious legal consequences, depending on the extent of the violation.

Using artificial voices without an individual's permission is a legal violation.

Some Other Forms of Abuse

Text-to-speech technology doesn't stop at just creating voices. When combined with other technologies, it creates more diverse and sophisticated forms of abuse. Specifically:

• Creating deepfakes: This technology intricately combines with image processing algorithms to create extremely realistic deepfake videos. In these videos, one person's face can be replaced with someone else's, and the voice is also fraudulently dubbed. This not only seriously damages the victim's honor and reputation but can also lead to serious legal and social consequences.
• Automating calls: Text-to-speech (TTS) technology is being exploited to create mass automated calls for commercial purposes or even fraud. These calls not only annoy recipients but also pose a risk of scams and personal information theft. The difficulty in distinguishing between automated and real calls leaves users helpless against these attacks.

Bad actors create extremely realistic deepfake videos to scam users.

Methods to Address the Above Issues

Below are some solutions to address the problems arising from the misuse of artificial voices:

Develop Clear Data Security Policies

The increasing popularity of artificial voice usage requires organizations to establish clear and transparent sets of rules. These regulations include measures to protect user privacy, prevent the creation of fake content, and strictly handle technology abuse. At the same time, these regulations need to be communicated in a simple and easy-to-understand manner so that everyone can grasp and comply with them.

User Data Security Measures

To protect personal voice data, establishing a strict access control system is extremely necessary. Only authorized individuals should have access to the system that stores and processes this data. In addition, encrypting data with modern algorithms will help prevent unauthorized access.

Organizations need to have a strict access control system to protect user information.

Furthermore, agencies and organizations should also implement multi-layered access control systems and regularly update security patches to help enhance data protection capabilities against cyberattacks.

Build Transparency

To build trust with users, service providers need to ensure transparency regarding the use of AI technology. Users have the right to know when they are interacting with an AI system and when they are speaking with a human agent. This transparency will help users feel respected and trust the services they are using.

Enhance User Education

To protect users from the negative impacts of audio synthesis technology, raising awareness is extremely necessary. Training programs on this technology should be widely implemented to equip users with the necessary knowledge to use the tool safely and responsibly. Through these programs, the public will be equipped with knowledge about potential risks, how to recognize and avoid technology abuse, and how to report violations.

Text-to-speech technology offers many benefits but also poses many challenges regarding security and privacy. Therefore, to use the service safely and effectively, users need to equip themselves with sufficient knowledge and skills to protect personal information and avoid potential risks.