The United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is actively seeking companies to develop undetectable deepfake internet users that can create online personas indistinguishable from real individuals.

The goal of this technology is to address user verification issues on social networks by creating realistic selfies and official documentation that can bypass security checks.

This initiative, detailed in a 76-page procurement document reviewed by The Intercept, outlines advanced technologies desired for elite military operations, including the generation of convincing online personas for social media.

The U.S. has previously accused countries like Russia, China, and Iran of using deepfakes to influence elections, highlighting the growing threat posed by synthetic media.

U.S. intelligence agencies have warned that synthetic media, including deepfakes, pose significant risks and challenges to modern communications.

Daniel Byman from the State Department's International Security Advisory Board has expressed worries that the government's use of such technology could undermine public trust.

Experts have raised concerns about the hypocrisy of the U.S. government engaging in deceptive practices while promoting truthful information, potentially eroding public trust.

SOCOM aims to produce 'selfie videos' featuring fabricated individuals, complete with matching fake backgrounds to ensure they evade detection by social media algorithms.

The desired technology includes the ability to create still images, facial and background video, and audio layers of these fabricated individuals.

Special Operations Forces plan to utilize these capabilities to gather information from public online forums.

In September 2023, a joint statement from the NSA, FBI, and CISA identified deepfakes as a top risk for technology users, emphasizing their potential for deception and misinformation.

Despite the U.S. government's concerns about the misuse of deepfake technology by adversaries, including Russia and China, this initiative appears contradictory to its official stance.