# Towards Understanding of Deepfake Videos in the Wild

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.01919 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.01919/

## Key facts

- Cited by 10 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 5 Sep 2023.

## Built on by (most cited first, 10 of 10)

- [Deepfake-Eval-2024: A Multi-Modal In-the-Wild Benchmark of Deepfakes Circulated in 2024](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.02857/) (2025)
- [SoK: Systematization and Benchmarking of Deepfake Detectors in a Unified Framework](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.04364/) (2024)
- [Disrupting Diffusion-based Inpainters with Semantic Digression](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.10277/) (2024)
- [Evolving from Single-modal to Multi-modal Facial Deepfake Detection: Progress and Challenges](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.06965/) (2024)
- [LLMs Are Not Yet Ready for Deepfake Image Detection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.10474/) (2025)
- [FakeChain: Exposing Shallow Cues in Multi-Step Deepfake Detection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.16602/) (2025)
- [Signals of Provenance: Practices & Challenges of Navigating Indicators in AI-Generated Media for Sighted and Blind Individuals](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.16057/) (2025)
- [From Prediction to Explanation: Multimodal, Explainable, and Interactive Deepfake Detection Framework for Non-Expert Users](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.07596/) (2025)
- [Seeing Through the Blur: Unlocking Defocus Maps for Deepfake Detection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.23289/) (2025)
- [Revisiting Simple Baselines for In-The-Wild Deepfake Detection](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.04150/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Deepfakes have become a growing concern in recent years, prompting researchers to develop benchmark datasets and detection algorithms to tackle the issue. However, existing datasets suffer from significant drawbacks that hamper their effectiveness. Notably, these datasets fail to encompass the latest deepfake videos produced by state-of-the-art methods that are being shared across various platforms. This limitation impedes the ability to keep pace with the rapid evolution of generative AI techniques employed in real-world deepfake production. Our contributions in this IRB-approved study are to bridge this knowledge gap from current real-world deepfakes by providing in-depth analysis. We first present the largest and most diverse and recent deepfake dataset (RWDF-23) collected from the wild to date, consisting of 2,000 deepfake videos collected from 4 platforms targeting 4 different languages span created from 21 countries: Reddit, YouTube, TikTok, and Bilibili. By expanding the dataset's scope beyond the previous research, we capture a broader range of real-world deepfake content, reflecting the ever-evolving landscape of online platforms. Also, we conduct a comprehensive analysis encompassing various aspects of deepfakes, including creators, manipulation strategies, purposes, and real-world content production methods. This allows us to gain valuable insights into the nuances and characteristics of deepfakes in different contexts. Lastly, in addition to the video content, we also collect viewer comments and interactions, enabling us to explore the engagements of internet users with deepfake content. By considering this rich contextual information, we aim to provide a holistic understanding of the {evolving} deepfake phenomenon and its impact on online platforms.