Academics Unite to Combat Rising Threat of Deepfakes

Efforts to counter the growing threat of deepfakes are intensifying as academic institutions and law enforcement agencies collaborate on innovative solutions. Recent partnerships aim to enhance detection capabilities and develop training programs focused on identifying AI-generated media.

Police Scotland has teamed up with researchers at Abertay University to bolster their deepfake detection and digital forensic skills. The collaboration includes sponsorship from the Scottish Institute for Policing Research, which will provide a PhD scholarship to the university’s cyberQuarter research center. This initiative seeks to explore how individuals can discern between sophisticated AI-generated visuals and authentic online content, ultimately creating training materials to improve detection.

Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston, who leads initiatives in organized crime and counter-terrorism, emphasized the significance of this partnership. “Work with Abertay cyberQuarter will be driven by a newly established Cyber and Fraud Unit, comprising specialist detectives and staff, that will develop new capabilities and training to tackle emerging digital threats to Scotland,” he stated.

Global Collaborations for Enhanced Research

The Abertay cyberQuarter, launched in 2022 with government funding, aims to serve as Scotland’s hub for collaboration and innovation in the cyber and tech sectors. In addition to its partnership with Police Scotland, the center is collaborating with researchers in Bremen, Germany. This initiative marks the first project of Sumsub‘s newly launched AI Academic Program, which focuses on developing AI-driven solutions to combat threats to democratic institutions and digital identities globally.

Co-founder and CTO of Sumsub, Vyacheslav Zholudev, highlighted the importance of this collaboration in advancing research and talent development. The firm plans to fund academic research, scholarships, and open innovation projects, allowing students to work within Sumsub’s product and technical teams. This partnership aims to generate academic research and publications that contribute to the fight against synthetic fraud.

“To fight deepfakes effectively, it is crucial to form alliances with top academic minds,” said Pavel Goldman-Kalaydin, head of AI and ML at Sumsub. “This partnership will combine research and practical solutions to help society stay ahead of these threats.”

Sumsub’s commitment to combating deepfake fraud comes at a critical time. According to the company’s internal data, global deepfake fraud skyrocketed by 700 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period the previous year. This alarming increase underscores the urgency of addressing this issue through collaborative research efforts.

Academic Funding for Deepfake Detection

In another significant development, Princeton University is investing in research aimed at enhancing deepfake detection methodologies. The Ivy League institution has awarded $125,000 to Yonghui Wang, an assistant professor at Prairie View A&M University, to lead the development of advanced algorithms for identifying deepfake videos. Dr. Wang will serve as the principal investigator, collaborating closely with Princeton researchers to drive this important work.

These partnerships reflect a growing recognition of the need for comprehensive strategies to combat the dangers posed by deepfakes. As deepfake technology continues to evolve, the collaboration between law enforcement agencies and academic institutions promises to play a pivotal role in safeguarding digital integrity and public trust.