Token-Gating Your Life: How Blockchain Tokens Can Combat AI-Powered Fraud

AI-powered fraud is on the rise, with deepfakes becoming increasingly sophisticated and hyper-customized phishing emails bypassing traditional security measures.

"The rise of AI-generated identity fraud like deepfakes is alarming, with 37% of organizations experiencing deepfake voice fraud and 29% falling victim to deepfake videos, according to a survey by Regula, a global developer of forensic devices and identity verification (IDV) solutions. The increasing accessibility of artificial intelligence technology for creating deepfakes is making the risks mount, posing a significant challenge for businesses and individuals alike." - Business Wire

In just one instance of AI fraud, a finance worker at the company Arup sent $25.6 million to a fraudster, believing it was on the instructions of their CFO in a video call. The trick? The image appearing live in the video call was an AI deep fake.

Families and friends are creating "pass phrases" with each other to prove people are who they say they are but, once that phrase has been exposed, it's value as a security mechanism is lost.

But what if there was a way to verify online interactions in a way that's secure, doesn't rely on centralized authorities, and even works for non-technical users? Enter the world of token-gated access, powered by NFTs and ERC-1155 tokens.

Tokens like ERC- 1155s can be used to token-gate your life. Imagine creating a unique 1155 token for your spouse, child, or close friend. Only people holding that token would have verified access to connect with you on various platforms, leaving AI-powered forgeries outside in the cold. The beauty of this system is that it doesn't require any external verification like a government ID. The token itself becomes a counterfeit-proof identifier of your specific relationship, and that token is under your control.

Several online tools are emerging that allow you to create these token-gated connections with loved ones. A quick web search for "token-gated communities" will point you in the right direction. These tools typically involve creating a crypto wallet like Metamask (which is surprisingly easy these days) and minting your tokens using user-friendly interfaces.

While still an emerging area, telecom providers, mobile apps, and tech companies are increasingly turning to blockchain tokens as a way to establish verified digital identities and combat caller ID spoofing, robocalls, deepfakes and other frauds impacting consumers but everyday people should start exploring home-brew solutions for ourselves.

• Imagine phone calls and text messages where only verified callers with your token can get through;
• Emails where only messages with your loved one's token attached are marked as authentic;
• Even video calls can be watermarked or checked against your token registry. That may look like grandma, but if it's really a wolf lacking your token; well, what big, sharp, pointy teeth you have!

The era of being lost in hundreds of millions of users in online "communities" like Facebook may be drawing to a close in favor of gate communities of trusted friends and family.Token-gating your life offers a powerful and secure way to combat AI-powered fraud while fostering closer, safer, more authentic online connections.

For more (a bit more technical), check out:

https://medium.com/@jkim_tran/how-to-send-messages-in-a-token-gated-video-call-6fe3e74c665e

https://medium.com/@nikhilsondhiya2221/introducing-token-gated-group-chats-enhancing-community-engagement-1a7505204b9d