A History of Fake Things on the Internet by Walter Scheirer Summary

A History of Fake Things on the Internet by Walter Scheirer traces the evolution of digital deception, from 19th-century photo manipulation to AI-driven deepfakes. It analyzes how technological advancements enabled fake content creation and examines societal impacts like eroded trust and viral conspiracy theories. The book argues that human behavior—not just technology—drives these challenges, blending historical case studies with insights into hacker culture and media forensics.

This book is essential for tech enthusiasts, digital historians, and anyone concerned about misinformation. Educators, policymakers, and social media users will gain tools to critically assess online content. Scheirer’s accessible analysis of AI ethics and media literacy also appeals to readers interested in cybersecurity or the cultural implications of emerging technologies.

Yes—it’s a timely, rigorously researched guide to understanding digital deception’s roots and consequences. Scheirer combines technical expertise (e.g., explaining deepfake algorithms) with cultural criticism, offering actionable strategies to combat misinformation. Its exploration of early internet hoaxes and modern AI threats makes it relevant for both general readers and professionals in tech or journalism.

Scheirer traces deepfakes to advancements in machine learning and generative adversarial networks (GANs), which enable hyper-realistic synthetic media. He highlights how these tools build on earlier innovations like Photoshop and CGI, emphasizing that human creativity—not just technology—propels their misuse. The book warns about deepfakes’ potential to undermine political systems and personal reputations.

The book details pre-internet hoaxes like 19th-century spirit photography and 1980s BBS-era pranks. It analyzes early viral deceptions like the “Dancing Baby” meme (1996) and “All Your Base Are Belong to Us” (2001), showing how they laid groundwork for modern misinformation tactics. Scheirer also explores conspiracy theories like QAnon and flat-earth movements.

Scheirer argues that AI’s capacity to generate convincing fakes demands new ethical frameworks for tech development. He advocates for “human-centric AI” that prioritizes transparency and accountability, citing Catholic Social Teaching principles. The book urges researchers to consider societal harms when designing tools like large language models.

Scheirer recommends reverse-image searches, metadata analysis, and AI-detection tools like Deepware Scanner. He emphasizes critical thinking: checking sources, verifying claims across platforms, and understanding common manipulation tactics (e.g., emotional manipulation in deepfake audio). The book also advises reporting suspicious content to fact-checking organizations.

While Virtue in Virtual Spaces (2024) focuses on ethical tech design through a philosophical lens, A History of Fake Things provides a technical and cultural history of digital deception. Both books address AI’s societal impact, but the latter delves deeper into specific case studies of misinformation, making them complementary reads.

Some reviewers note the book’s dense technical explanations may challenge casual readers. Others suggest it could explore non-Western misinformation campaigns more thoroughly. However, most praise its balanced approach to blaming systemic issues rather than individual “bad actors” for fake content’s spread.

With AI-generated content proliferating across social media and political campaigns, Scheirer’s analysis of detection methods and ethical safeguards remains critical. The book’s framework helps readers navigate emerging threats like real-time deepfake video calls and AI-powered impersonation scams, making it a vital resource for digital literacy.

As a Notre Dame AI researcher and former Securics R&D director, Scheirer combines academic rigor with industry insights. His work in biometrics and media forensics informs the book’s technical depth, while his commentary on Catholic ethics adds a unique lens for evaluating technology’s societal role.

“Problems associated with fake content stem not from the technology itself, but from our capacity for both creativity and destruction.” This encapsulates Scheirer’s thesis that human behavior—not just algorithms—determines whether innovations empower or deceive.