Report: Deep Dive On Deepfake Videos

Lawmakers and experts are sounding the alarm about "deepfakes," forged videos that look remarkably real, warning they will be the next phase in disinformation campaigns.

According to The Hill, the manipulated videos make it difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction, as artificial intelligence technology produces fake content that looks increasingly real.

The issue has the attention of lawmakers from both parties on Capitol Hill.

"It is almost too late to sound the alarm before this technology is released -- it has been unleashed ... and now we are playing a bit of defense," Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) told The Hill.

Experts say it is only a matter of time before advances in artificial intelligence technology and the proliferation of those tools allow any online user to create deepfakes.

"It is regarded by political and technology experts as the next weapon in the disinformation warfare," Fabrice Pothier, senior advisor with the Transatlantic Commission on Election Integrity, told The Hill.

Pothier worries that technological advances will make it harder to detect false or doctored videos.

"This technology should be considered criminal, counter-terrorism or even counter-espionage behavior," said Bob Anderson, principal at The Chertoff Group.

For example, experts posed hypotheticals such as terrorist groups ISIS or al Qaeda manufacturing videos of American soldiers creating atrocities on the battlefield as propaganda; videos falsely showing political candidates making controversial remarks before an election; or CEOs announcing incorrect financial projections.

The fallout from such scenarios could be disastrous.