The Phenomenon of Synthetic Media in the Post-Truth Era: Perception of Reality and Ethical Dilemmas

Özlem As Koçbaş

Article Details

The Phenomenon of Synthetic Media in the Post-Truth Era: Perception of Reality and Ethical Dilemmas

Authors:

Özlem As Koçbaş

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

İletişim ve Medya Çalışmaları (Diğer) | Ekran ve Medya Kültürü

Journal:

4. BOYUT Medya ve Kültürel Çalışmalar Dergisi Issue 26, pp.124-145

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

5/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358556

pISSN:

2822-6623

Keywords:

Abstract:

 The expression post-truth which denotes the prevailing spirit of the times, has infiltrated nearly every aspect of life with the transformation in communication technologies. In todays society of spectacle, where personal truths, emotions, and beliefs have replaced the modern understanding of truth based on objective data and rationality, and where reality and falsity have become interchangeable, with the dominance of images, the media has both served as a mirror for this period and nourished this system with all its tools. This study addresses the epistemological transformation of the concept of truth throughout history and examines synthetic media content, a product of artificial intelligence technology, and its ethical dimension in the new media age. The changes in the concept of truth from Antiquity to the present, the intellectual foundations of postmodernism and the post-truth era, and the effect of new media on the perception of truth are discussed. In this study, while examining artificial intelligence-based synthetic media content and its potential risk factors, this new form of media is evaluated from various perspectives such as ethics, responsibility, digital identity rights, and data ethics, and its relationship with the post-truth era is explored. Synthetic media content produced with artificial intelligence technology, by reinforcing the characteristic features of the post-truth era, blurs the distinction between reality and falsity, undermines individuals trust in visual and auditory experiences, and deepens the risks of disinformation and the issues of access to and trust in information on a societal level. The widespread use of synthetic media content brings with it the issues of personal data protection, digital identity rights, and ethical concerns. Measures to ensure the security of individuals digital identities and prevent unauthorised use of their data are critical in this context. In particular, the development of media literacy programs aimed at increasing digital literacy is seen as an effective strategy against the ethical and security risks posed by synthetic media.

 The expression post-truth which denotes the prevailing spirit of the times, has infiltrated nearly every aspect of life with the transformation in communication technologies. In todays society of spectacle, where personal truths, emotions, and beliefs have replaced the modern understanding of truth based on objective data and rationality, and where reality and falsity have become interchangeable, with the dominance of images, the media has both served as a mirror for this period and nourished this system with all its tools. This study addresses the epistemological transformation of the concept of truth throughout history and examines synthetic media content, a product of artificial intelligence technology, and its ethical dimension in the new media age. The changes in the concept of truth from Antiquity to the present, the intellectual foundations of postmodernism and the post-truth era, and the effect of new media on the perception of truth are discussed. In this study, while examining artificial intelligence-based synthetic media content and its potential risk factors, this new form of media is evaluated from various perspectives such as ethics, responsibility, digital identity rights, and data ethics, and its relationship with the post-truth era is explored. Synthetic media content produced with artificial intelligence technology, by reinforcing the characteristic features of the post-truth era, blurs the distinction between reality and falsity, undermines individuals trust in visual and auditory experiences, and deepens the risks of disinformation and the issues of access to and trust in information on a societal level. The widespread use of synthetic media content brings with it the issues of personal data protection, digital identity rights, and ethical concerns. Measures to ensure the security of individuals digital identities and prevent unauthorised use of their data are critical in this context. In particular, the development of media literacy programs aimed at increasing digital literacy is seen as an effective strategy against the ethical and security risks posed by synthetic media.

 The expression post-truth which denotes the prevailing spirit of the times, has infiltrated nearly every aspect of life with the transformation in communication technologies. In todays society of spectacle, where personal truths, emotions, and beliefs have replaced the modern understanding of truth based on objective data and rationality, and where reality and falsity have become interchangeable, with the dominance of images, the media has both served as a mirror for this period and nourished this system with all its tools. This study addresses the epistemological transformation of the concept of truth throughout history and examines synthetic media content, a product of artificial intelligence technology, and its ethical dimension in the new media age. The changes in the concept of truth from Antiquity to the present, the intellectual foundations of postmodernism and the post-truth era, and the effect of new media on the perception of truth are discussed. In this study, while examining artificial intelligence-based synthetic media content and its potential risk factors, this new form of media is evaluated from various perspectives such as ethics, responsibility, digital identity rights, and data ethics, and its relationship with the post-truth era is explored. Synthetic media content produced with artificial intelligence technology, by reinforcing the characteristic features of the post-truth era, blurs the distinction between reality and falsity, undermines individuals trust in visual and auditory experiences, and deepens the risks of disinformation and the issues of access to and trust in information on a societal level. The widespread use of synthetic media content brings with it the issues of personal data protection, digital identity rights, and ethical concerns. Measures to ensure the security of individuals digital identities and prevent unauthorised use of their data are critical in this context. In particular, the development of media literacy programs aimed at increasing digital literacy is seen as an effective strategy against the ethical and security risks posed by synthetic media.

 Zamanın hâkim ruhunu ifade eden hakikat sonrası, iletişim teknolojilerindeki değişimle hayatın hemen her alanına nüfuz etmiştir. Nesnel verilere ve rasyonelliğe dayalı modern hakikat anlayışının yerini kişisel hakikatler, duygular ve inançların aldığı, gerçek ile sahte birbirinin yerine geçtiği, görüntünün baskın hale geldiği günümüz gösteri toplumunda; medya, bu dönemi anlamak için hem bir ayna işlevi görmüş hem de tüm araçlarıyla bu sistemi beslemiştir. Bu çalışma, hakikat kavramının tarihsel süreçteki epistemolojik dönüşümünü ele alarak, yeni medya çağında yapay zekâ teknolojisinin bir ürünü olan sentetik medya içeriklerini ve etik boyutunu incelemektedir. Hakikat kavramının Antik Çağdan günümüze değin geçirdiği değişim, postmodernizm ve hakikat sonrası dönemin düşünsel temelleri ile yeni medyanın hakikat algısına etkisi tartışılmaktadır. Çalışmada, yapay zekâ tabanlı sentetik medya içerikleri ve potansiyel risk unsurları incelenirken söz konusu yeni medya türü; etik, sorumluluk, dijital kimlik hakkı ve veri etiği gibi farklı perspektiflerden değerlendirilmekte ve hakikat sonrası çağla ilişkisi irdelenmektedir. Yapay zekâ teknolojileriyle üretilen sentetik medya içerikleri, hakikat sonrası çağın karakteristik özelliklerini pekiştirerek; gerçek ve sahte arasındaki ayrımı belirsizleştirmekte, bireylerin görsel-işitsel deneyime olan güvenini sarsmakta ve dezenformasyon riskini ve toplumsal düzeyde bilgiye erişim ve güven sorununu derinleştirmektedir. Sentetik medya içeriklerinin yaygınlaşması, kişisel verilerin korunması, dijital kimlik hakları ve etik sorunları beraberinde getirmektedir. Bireylerin dijital kimliklerinin güvenliği ve verilerinin izinsiz kullanımına karşı alınacak önlemler, bu bağlamda önemli bir gereklilik arz etmektedir. Özellikle, dijital okuryazarlık seviyesini yükseltmeye yönelik medya okuryazarlığı programlarının geliştirilmesi, sentetik medyanın yol açtığı etik ve güvenlik risklerine karşı etkili bir strateji olarak görülmektedir.

Article Details

The Phenomenon of Synthetic Media in the Post-Truth Era: Perception of Reality and Ethical Dilemmas

Authors:

Özlem As Koçbaş

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

İletişim ve Medya Çalışmaları (Diğer) | Ekran ve Medya Kültürü

Journal:

4. BOYUT Medya ve Kültürel Çalışmalar Dergisi Issue 26, pp.124-145

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

5/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358556

pISSN:

2822-6623

Post-truth

Synthetic Media

Artificial Intelligence

Ethics

Data Ethics

Digital IdentityHakikat Sonrası

Sentetik Medya

Yapay Zekâ

Etik

Veri Etiği

Dijital Kimlik

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Özlem As Koçbaş

Publisher: Istanbul University

Main Topics: İletişim ve Medya Çalışmaları (Diğer) | Ekran ve Medya Kültürü

Journal: 4. BOYUT Medya ve Kültürel Çalışmalar Dergisi Issue 26, pp.124-145

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 5/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001358556

pISSN: 2822-6623

Issues

Authors:

Özlem As Koçbaş

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

İletişim ve Medya Çalışmaları (Diğer) | Ekran ve Medya Kültürü

Journal:

4. BOYUT Medya ve Kültürel Çalışmalar Dergisi Issue 26, pp.124-145

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

5/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358556

pISSN:

2822-6623