[2603.13846] Is Seeing Believing? Evaluating Human Sensitivity to Synthetic Video

Computer Science > Human-Computer Interaction arXiv:2603.13846 (cs) [Submitted on 14 Mar 2026 (v1), last revised 28 Mar 2026 (this version, v3)] Title:Is Seeing Believing? Evaluating Human Sensitivity to Synthetic Video Authors:David Wegmann, Emil Stevnsborg, Søren Knudsen, Luca Rossi, Aske Mottelson View a PDF of the paper titled Is Seeing Believing? Evaluating Human Sensitivity to Synthetic Video, by David Wegmann and 4 other authors View PDF HTML (experimental) Abstract:Advances in machine learning have enabled the creation of realistic synthetic videos known as deepfakes. As deepfakes proliferate, concerns about rapid spread of disinformation and manipulation of public perception are mounting. Despite the alarming implications, our understanding of how individuals perceive synthetic media remains limited, obstructing the development of effective mitigation strategies. This paper aims to narrow this gap by investigating human responses to visual and auditory distortions of videos and deepfake-generated visuals and narration. In two between-subjects experiments, we study whether audio-visual distortions affect cognitive processing, such as subjective credibility assessment and objective learning outcomes. A third study reveals that artifacts from deepfakes influence credibility. The three studies show that video distortions and deepfake artifacts can reduce credibility. Our research contributes to the ongoing exploration of the cognitive processes involved in the evaluat...