Where Data Tells the Story
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Deepfake attacks are increasingly harming ordinary people rather than just celebrities or politicians.
This is according to new data from Resemble AI’s 2025 Deepfake Threat Report.
The report analyzed 1,567 verified deepfake incidents gathered from global media coverage and documented in a continuously maintained incident database.
Researchers reviewed 3,253 related news stories and categorized incidents by both the “target” (whose likeness was used) and the “victim” (who ultimately experienced the harm).
The gap between who gets impersonated and who gets hurt suggests that deepfakes are increasingly functioning as tools for fraud and social engineering rather than simply viral misinformation.
In many cases, public figures or trusted institutions are used as bait.
A fake celebrity endorsement, cloned executive voice, or AI-generated government message may use a recognizable identity to deceive ordinary people into sending money, sharing information, or trusting fraudulent content.
That pattern aligns with a growing number of warnings from governments and cybersecurity researchers globally.