Local News
Deep Fakes: Seeing is Not Believing
“What the eyes see, and the ears hear – the mind believes” – Harry Houdini
In 2017, the term ‘Deep Fakes’ (spelled ‘deepfakes’) was the fashionable buzzword at IBM regarding the latest in influence capabilities using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The possibilities of pervasive disinformation were obvious then, but I didn’t think it would arrive this soon. Deepfake technology improved immensely in a relatively short period of time. Society and regulation will soon be in reaction mode, playing catch-up with the outbreak of new issues accompanying this innovation.
Most info-savvy people are familiar with media spin and the polarization of news along the left and right axis. The terms disinformation, misinformation, spin control, narrative, and so forth are part of our daily lexicon. If you agree that the search for truth is difficult now, wait to you see what’s coming soon. By 2030, we will all be living in a world of disbelief.
By the way, we’re not talking about photo-shopping pictures or imposing celebrity faces on pics like Elvis with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un below or the existing practice of placing the faces of celebrity starlets on porn photos. No sir, we’re way beyond that now. Deepfakes is on another level. This is going to be a game-changer. Hopefully, it won’t lead to our demise.
Deepfakes are defined as AI-doctored audio and video footage, creating visuals and events that never occurred. In other words, it is a video of a person whose face or body has been digitally altered to appear to be someone else, typically for malicious purposes or to spread false information. This new technology can make people believe something is real when it is not.
[Kim Jong-Un with Elvis. Photoshop: Lazaro Gamio/Axios]
If the viewing public cannot discern reality, what are we reduced to? Cybercriminals and foreign governments are stocking up on the AI capabilities that will define the next generation of conflict. Meanwhile, automation and the rise of fake information are stirring unrest. Together these forces can turn society upside down.
The current anti-Artificial Intelligence narrative is generally aimed at the progression of robotics. The doomsayers refer our memory to the movie, ‘Terminator,’ when AI got out of control and pitted mankind versus the machines. We, as a global society, have a quicker chance of getting blindsided by the secondary effects of AI’s other offspring – ‘deepfakes.’
A very real-looking video of a world leader making incendiary threats could, if widely believed, set off a trade war or a conventional war or worse. Increases in deepfake technology allow the manipulation of footage that could easily depict President Biden saying, “Vladimir Putin has 48 hours to vacate the Kremlin, or the U.S. will launch a nuclear strike.” If the Russian President believed the footage to be authentic, he might well launch a first strike. Visualize that concept in the context of President Bush’s 2003 globally televised ultimatum to Saddam Hussein. Current deepfake technology can replace President Bush’s face with President Biden’s face and alter the audio with President Biden’s voice threatening Vladimir Putin. The collective public viewing this on TV would not know it was fake, nor would Mr. Putin. That could have dire consequences for life as we know it. Another danger is the possibility that deepfake technology spreads so that people are unwilling to trust video or audio evidence. Imagine the impact of that in the courtroom. I can see the prosecuting attorney squirming now. Imagine a fake video causing widespread rioting. Given recent events, the latter is not difficult to fathom.
Businesses will bloom that specifically design fake videos for hire. A few already exist. The campaign that hires the best deepfake company will have an advantage. Expect to see dead movie icons promoting products in voice and character that looks real. Visualize John Wayne and Kevin Costner together in an advertisement for Stetson cowboy hats. Then visualize the surge in Stetson’s market share.
Activists will be able to whip up a frenzy with fake inflammatory footage and fake press conference remarks, etc. News agencies will unwittingly broadcast the deepfake material because they can’t tell the difference. Social media-induced demonstrations have existed for years. Think Arab Spring. An accompanying video is worth a thousand words, and properly crafted, a deepfake video can change the trajectory of society. The prospect of deepfake video scams frolics about in my crystal ball. At the very least, it will pose innumerable difficulties for law enforcement.
Basic artificial intelligence applications have become accessible to the public in the past year, opening vast opportunities for creativity as well as confusion. With campaigning already underway for the 2024 Presidential Election, the impact of this technology is already in the limelight. And, what about the impact of foreign countries [think Russia] using these tools to sway public opinion more effectively moving forward?
Just recently, presidential candidate Ron DeSantis’s campaign shared faked images of Donald Trump and Antony Fauci hugging created with artificial intelligence. [You know how fond they are of each other]. A few weeks earlier, a deepfake-generated image of the Pentagon being bombed caused brief stock market dips and a statement from the Department of Defense. This is how far along we are now, but wait a couple of years, and everyone will be second-guessing the validity of everything they see.
[Screengrabs from an ad campaign for Ron DeSantis featured on the DeSantis War Room Twitter account. Images are AI-generated. © Provided by HuffPost]
Several Hollywood stars have recently expressed concern about their likeness being used and about the prospects of having their likeness superimposed on other characters from existing films. This kind of edit makes us wonder what the future of film could look like using this technology. Imagine being able to choose your preferred actor to play the lead in any film you’re watching or, better yet, input your own likeness into the film. Wild possibilities.
Identifying Deep Fakes (Content Authentication)
The flip side of creating deepfakes is the ‘fact-checking’ or identification of fake visuals – referred to as content authentication. While AI can be used to make deepfakes, it can also detect them. As deepfake technology becomes accessible to any computer user, more and more researchers are focusing on deepfake detection with the regulation in mind. This obviously creates the need for many more professionals in this line of work – especially since the technology is spreading through society rather swiftly.
Large corporations like Facebook and Microsoft have taken initiatives to detect and remove deepfake videos. Presently, you can generally detect slight visual miscues in deepfake videos, such as the ears or eyes not matching, facial borders that don’t look right, or improper lighting and shadows. Detecting these flaws is getting harder as the deepfake technology becomes more advanced and videos look more realistic. Just as fact-checking takes time, so does the time lapse between when a deepfake video is released and when it can be authenticated. By then, decisions have been made, and the world has moved on. Of course, the question then becomes; are people more likely to believe a deep fake or a detection algorithm that flags the video as fabricated? Let’s put it this way, you and I won’t be able to tell it’s fake.
Initially, the authentication capability will be in the hands of a few firms but over time, new ‘authentication apps’ will be available to the public. When breaking footage is passed over social media, our first question to each other will be, “Has it been authenticated yet?” That is defined as the point of disbelief.
Technological advancement leading us astray
The lightning speed with which high-tech disinformation can now spread around the globe is already alarming. Deepfake videos make it even harder to discern fact from fiction. The inability to believe what you see during heightened tensions unfolding in real-time is a scary thought. When all the information you require is rife with misinformation, and you can’t believe what you see – you have a problem. When that dilemma is universally prevalent – we all have a problem. Once this line is eroded, truth itself will not exist. Essentially, what your eyes see and your ears hear cannot be trusted anymore – then everything becomes false. We will lose confidence in anything and everything.
Local News
POLICE: 7 Day FRPD Arrest Report 4/28/2024
Front Royal Police Department’s arrest report for the past 7 days:
Local News
VDOT: Warren County Traffic Alert for May 6 – 10, 2024
The following is a list of highway work that may affect traffic in Warren County during the coming weeks. Scheduled work is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations. When traveling through a work zone, be alert to periodic changes in traffic patterns and lane closures.
*NEW* or *UPDATE* indicates a new or revised entry since last week’s report.
INTERSTATE 66
*NEW* Mile marker 0 to 15, eastbound and westbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for pavement marking installations, 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday and Tuesday nights.
*NEW* Mile marker 0 to 2, eastbound – Right shoulder closures for utility work, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through May 31.
*NEW* Mile marker 8 to 7, westbound – Right shoulder closures for sign work, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Mile marker 9 to 7, westbound – Overnight right lane closures at Shenandoah River bridge for utility work, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Thursday night.
INTERSTATE 81
*UPDATE* Mile marker 299 to 300, northbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for overhead sign repairs, 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday night.
Mile marker 299 to 300, northbound – Right shoulder closures for utility work, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through May 31.
Mile marker 299 to 300, northbound and southbound –Overnight lane closures and traffic-lane shifts as needed, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. through December 2024. Shoulder closures 24/7. Work zone speed limit: 55 miles an hour. Work is related to southbound acceleration ramp extension and bridge widening, with estimated completion in late 2024.
PRIMARY ROADS
*NEW* Route 55 (John Marshall Highway) – Flagger traffic control between Front Royal town limits and Route 647 (Dismal Hollow Road) for guardrail upgrades, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday (May 2) and Tuesday (May 7).
*NEW* Route 340 (Stonewall Jackson Highway) – Flagger traffic control between Route 674 (Limeton Church Road) and Route 607 (Rocky Lane) for pipe replacement, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 7 – May 14.
SECONDARY ROADS
Route 658 (Rockland Road) – Closed to through traffic between Route 340/522 (Winchester Road) and Route 705 (Fishnet Boulevard) for the construction of a bridge over Norfolk Southern Railway. Estimated completion December 2025.
Vegetation management may take place district-wide on various routes. Motorists are reminded to use extreme caution when traveling through work zones.
Traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511 or at www.511Virginia.org.
Local News
VSP Investigating I-81 Dump Truck/Sheriff’s Vehicle Accident
The Virginia State Police are investigating a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 81 in Shenandoah County. The crash occurred Friday, May 3, at 5:46 a.m. at the Route 646 overpass at the 292-mile maker of I-81.
A 2005 Kenworth dump truck was traveling north on I-81 when the driver accidentally engaged the dump bed, which raised it and caused it to collide with the bridge overpass. The collision caused the dump bed to detach from the truck, slide backward, and land on a northbound 2022 Ford Explorer, which was driven by a Frederick County Sheriff’s deputy.
The dump truck driver, Gaylon R. Miller, 71, of Toms Brook, Va., was not injured in the crash. He was wearing his seatbelt.
The sheriff’s deputy suffered minor injuries and was transported to Winchester Medical Center for treatment.
Miller was charged with reckless driving.
These photos indicate what a close call this deputy appears to have had. – Photos by Virginia State Police who authorize their publication.
(From a Release by the Virginia State Police)
Local News
WCSB Approves New LFK Principal; Accepts Scholarships for Baseball, Softball Seniors
The Warren County School Board unanimously approved the appointment of a new principal who will take over at Leslie Fox Keyser (LFK) Elementary School starting this summer and accepted baseball and softball scholarships being offered by the Front Royal Cardinals for four seniors attending Warren County Public Schools (WCPS).
Board chair Kristen Pence, vice chair Antoinette Funk, and board members Andrea Lo, Thomas McFadden, Jr., and Melanie Salins, during their regular meeting on Wednesday, May 1, voted 5-0 to have Jennifer Cameron appointed as the LFK principal effective July 1.
School Division Superintendent Christopher Ballenger (right), on May 1, introduced School Board members to Jennifer Cameron (left), the new 2024-2025 principal at Leslie Fox Keyser Elementary School.
“Ms. Cameron is an experienced educator and leader in Warren County,” said WCPS Superintendent Christopher Ballenger in recommending her appointment to the School Board.
Previously, Cameron has taught as a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher and has experience as a literacy coach who supported grade-level teachers in her school building, Ballenger said, adding that as an administrator, Cameron has served as the dean of students and as an assistant principal.
“During her years of service, Ms. Cameron was selected as the Rotary Teacher of the Year in 2008 and was the [WCPS] Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2015-2016,” he added.
As a leader, Ballenger also said that Cameron has been integral in transforming E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School and has served as the chair for the division’s Attendance Committee for the past two years.
“Ms. Cameron is a great fit for LFK, and I know that her skill set will continue to move LFK forward,” said the superintendent.
Following the board’s vote, Cameron told board members she was honored to accept the LFK principal position and said she’s excited to rejoin the Lil’ Cat family.
“Thank you for entrusting me with this opportunity to nurture young minds and to foster the continued excellence of LFK,” she said. “I look forward to working with you to continue the path to excellence at Warren County Public Schools. I’m truly humbled at this huge responsibility that you have entrusted to me, and I look forward to the coming school year and this new adventure that awaits me.”
In other action items, the School Board unanimously accepted four scholarships with gratitude from the Front Royal Cardinals and approved the donation of auditorium seating from E. Wilson Morrison (EWM) Elementary School.
Donna Settle, president of Front Royal Cardinals Baseball, a nonprofit organization that is part of the Valley Baseball League, said that as part of the group’s fundraising activities, the board will sponsor Little League for both girls and boys and will give back to the WCPS baseball and softball programs.
“This year, our board has voted to bring scholarships back to Warren County,” Settle told the board. “I know we’re a little late in the season, but we have enough money set aside for the scholarships for the 2024 student-athletes.”
There are four new $500 scholarship opportunities beginning with the Class of 2024 that are available for a Skyline baseball and softball senior who plans to continue their education and for a Warren County baseball and softball senior who plans to continue their education.
The School Board also voted 5-0 to permit two auditorium seats to be donated to Robert MacDougall, founding principal of Transform Development, a commercial landlord and developer based in the Shenandoah Valley.
Seating in the EWM auditorium, which is being renovated to provide an indoor facility for students and staff, has been removed and is set to go to auction. MacDougall offered a facility to store the auditorium seating until they could be auctioned.
With the School Board’s blessing, WCPS will now donate two seats to MacDougall, who will display them in the theater once its renovation is completed.
Regarding a request to have the Warren County Board of Supervisors (BOS) appropriate the fiscal year 2022 School Operating Fund Surplus, the School Board voted unanimously to table the item to a work session and FY2025 budget resolution.
Ballenger explained that the total fiscal year 2021-2022 school operating surplus is $973,098, and said it was being requested that the Warren County Board of Supervisors (BOS) appropriate $300,000 of the surplus to the School Transportation Fund that is held by the County and the remaining $673,098 to the School Capital Improvement Fund that is also held by the County.
The $300,000 designated for the Transportation Fund was originally included in the FY2025 Proposed School Operating Budget to purchase replacement buses and vehicle(s) but has since been removed contingent upon the funding appropriated to the Transportation Fund, he said.
Of the $673,098 requested for the County’s School Capital Improvement Fund, $40,000 was originally included in the FY2025 Proposed School Operating Budget to cover the repair/replacement of the chiller at Hilda J Barbour Elementary School and to upgrade the HVAC management systems at several schools. The remaining balance ($633,098) being requested for the Capital Improvement Fund would be requested at a future date for other capital priorities, such as the replacement of the tennis courts at the high schools.
As the budget process continues unfolding for both WCPS and the BOS, the School Board members agreed to work more on the item before taking action.
During the School Board’s community participation portion of its meeting, Leslie Mathews (above), a parent with two children attending Skyline Middle School, said that some of the School Board members are using the concerns expressed through emails by parents as “a crutch” for their own political motives. She called it a disgrace.
“I and we parents are only given three minutes a month [during School Board meetings] to get up here and express our concerns to you, or we’re told we can email you,” said Mathews. “But I no longer trust that method of emailing.”
Mathews, who last fall unsuccessfully challenged School Board incumbent Pence for the South River School Board seat, said “it’s such a disgrace for you as a public servant to go and encourage others to FOIA the concerns of parents who are not like-minded as yourself.
“So, therefore, our concerns are going public,” said Mathews, who didn’t name names. “If we want more positive in Warren County Public Schools, then we need to start at our leadership.”
Chamber News
Front Royal Welcomes CBM Team of Supreme Lending with Enthusiasm and Optimism
Front Royal, Virginia, celebrated a significant business merger that marks a promising future for local economic development. The CBM Team, a longstanding local business entity, has officially joined forces with Supreme Lending, expanding its reach and capacity to serve the community more effectively.
Nike Foster, Executive Director of the Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce, and Mayor Lori Cockrell welcomed the CBM Team to our community. The event underscored a vibrant community spirit and the potential for economic growth. Byron Biggs, Chairman of the Chamber, highlighted the merger as a symbol of positive evolution in the local business landscape. It is now poised to extend its influence beyond Virginia.
Mayor Cockrell shared personal anecdotes, reflecting on the profound local ties and the exceptional character of the individuals involved, particularly noting the entrepreneurial spirit of Cory Michael, a former student of hers and now a regional manager for Team CBM. Her words painted a picture of a community that values deep personal connections and collective growth.
The merger promises substantial benefits to Front Royal, bringing enhanced services and opportunities for home ownership that were previously out of reach for many residents. This union is a merger of two companies and a fusion of cultures and aspirations, aiming to enrich the local community while maintaining the cherished CBM brand identity.
Attendees left the event with a sense of excitement and anticipation for the future, confident in the continued prosperity and communal strength of Front Royal.
Local News
Congratulations to Warren County High School Seniors – Class of 2024
Royal Examiner presents the Warren County High School Class of 2024. Congratulations to these wonderful seniors on their hard work and deserved accomplishments! We wish you the best in your next big endeavors. Photos courtesy of Victor O’Neill Studios and Tolliver Studios, LLC.
If your Warren County senior is not listed, please send in their Name and Senior Picture to news@royalexaminer.com.
McKenna Adkins
Peyton Ahmed
Isaac Amor
Kristina Andrews
Seana Andrews
Diego Aponte
Dillon Arndt
Sydney Arndt
Dalton Ayers
Ebony Bailey
Marshall Barton
Shelby Bell
Kaydria Bennett
William Bergmann
Roberto Berrios
Hannah Bonner
Beatrix Boudreau
Arianna Bourgoin
Logan Bradshaw
Jeremiah Bright
Darnel Caison
Levi Campbell
Autumn Carofano
Joshua Carroll
Bradley Chaffin
Angel Chan
Jaclyn Clark
Jessie Clegg
Madison Clowser
Trenton Coffelt
Katherine Ramirez Colato
Nikolai Compton
David Miramontes Correa
Isaiah Cossio
Cash Cox
Joseph Cross
Alannah Deavers
Landon Deese
Connor Deisch
Palmer Dellinger
Marcellis Diamond
Raymond Dingess
Eliza Dorsey
Christopher Doyle
Lillian Doyle
Aiden Dunnet
April Lopez Escobar
Catherine Farley
Benjamin Farris
Caroline Feldhauser
Gabriel Ferris
Alaysia Flora
Jasmin Portillo Flores
Christopher Flynn
Silas Foster
Calyssa Foxley
Elijah Frame
Isabella Freiland
Madison Funes
Aiden Gates
Austin Grady
Matthew Grant
Elizabeth Greenwell
Kayla Haase
Sarah Hardin
Alexandria Harris
Delaney Haw
Brayden Heflin
Andrea Hernandez
Sophia Hill
Keandre Hogue
Anastacia Hrbek
Collin Huston
Emily Jackson
Kaleb Jackson
Jadyn Jeffries
Colby Jenkins
Kevin Todd Jenkins Jr.
Rebecca Jett
Lillian Johns
Anna Johnson
Skylar Keller
Olivia Kelly
Avayda Kemp
Alice Kent
Sofia Kozhenevsky
Camren Kyle
Riana LaFrenierre
Olivia Lambert
Vincent Lamendola Jr.
Joselyn Leyva-Gamez
Sophia Logan
Emma Lord
Phillip Maddox III
Blaine Mansour
Mackenzie Mardeusz
Jacob Martin
Blake McCarty
Sophia McCurry
Cameron McGee
Shawn McGinness
Luke McIntire
Titus Messineo
Jossue Gonzalez Miramontes
William Moreno
Christian Morey
Keyshawn Morgan
Spencer Nelson
Charlize Noel
Christian O’Donnell
Emily Oldland
Joseph Ortman
Veronica Pak
Jonathan Panciera
Italia Panzica
Brook Patton
Dragan Pead
Malachi Pinner
Steven Pugh
Blake Ramsey
Eric Rapp
Alaura Repass-Nardone
Brandon Reynolds
Lucas Riley
Xander Ring
Tyler Roan
Kierstin Robertson
Nicholas Robison
Samuel Rock
Caitlyn Rotenberry
Morgan Sajeski
Laney Schenher
Joshua Schneider
Kira Shaver
Bradan Shifflett
Molly Sims
Tristen Sine
Simon Skube
Destiny Smith
Marcus Smith
Brendan Snapp
Jacqueline St. Clair
Brady Strickler
Devin Swearingen
Morgan Sweeney
Robert Swisher
Kaley Tanner
Kaitlin Taylor
Madelyn Tennant
Zia Texier
Johnny Thomas
Aiden Thompson
Joseph Thompson
Eva Thornberg
Owen Thorpe
Jose Ulloa
Malcolm Vinson-Proctor
Alijah Waters
Dagan Wayland
Payton Weaver
Sharlit White
Aliyah Whitman
Taylor Wickham
Marcus Williams
John Williams III
Dejaun Winston
Hunter Winters
Grant Wolf
Militza Woloszyn
Sydney Woodward
Suleman Zewar
