The world is facing an online swindle like no other: artificial intelligence is being exploited to execute cyber hoaxes, such as false copyright claim letters. These are designed to manipulate search engine rankings, thus warping the internet exposure of information.
This was discovered by Ernie Smith from ‘Tedium’, who received a DMCA claim alleging copyright violation for a free picture from the renowned photography website, Unsplash. Upon further investigation, Smith found the claim was baseless since the photograph was indeed free and usable by the public.
Interestingly, the demand came from an alleged “lawyer”, who instead of requesting to remove the image or request payment, wanted Smith to add a link to a different website.
AI-driven online copyright scam tactics
This odd request added to Smith’s skepticism and further investigation revealed that the issuing “law firm” sported a website full of inconsistencies and contradictions concerning its physical location.
The devious strategy behind this internet scam lures blog owners into adding random website links under the pretense of copyright violation threats. What in the outset seems like a standard copyright violation notification, is in actuality a deceitful scheme to plant unrelated website links on their sites, which is all the more persuasive due to the use of AI in creating believable lawyer profiles.
This alarming method of fraudulent activity doesn’t just disrupt blogging communities, but it also undermines their integrity while fostering an environment of mistrust. More concerning is the fact that these scammers are exploiting a flawed copyright system, leveraging on individuals’ lack of understanding and fear of copyright laws to furnish spam-filled SEO backlinks, all the while using AI to enhance their credibility.
The sophistication and damaging nature of this scam highlight the urgent necessity for reforms in our copyright system. Additionally, it reinforces the importance of user education and the need to create a safer digital landscape to prevent such malicious acts carried out with seemingly no consequences.
