Lawyers Face Deepfake Impersonation
Criminals can deploy AI‑cloned voices to impersonate firm partners or judges, instructing wire transfers or confidential disclosures under false pretenses. Deepfake impersonation isn’t just creepy—it’s criminal identity theft that can compromise client funds and firm reputations American Bar Association. According to the American Bar Association, existing statutes must be updated to explicitly outlaw synthetic‑media fraud and mandate harsher penalties for deepfake‑assisted impersonation.
Paralegals at Risk of Voice Cloning
Paralegals often handle client intake and administrative communications, making them prime targets for AI‑driven social‑engineering attacks. An impostor bot can convincingly mimic a senior attorney’s voice to authorize sensitive tasks. Experts recommend establishing secret code words or rotating PINs for all telephonic authorizations, and educating staff on warning signs of audio tampering.
Judges Confront AI Avatars in the Courtroom
Courts themselves are grappling with AI’s intrusion. In New York, self‑represented litigant Jerome Dewald attempted to present arguments through a pre‑recorded AI avatar, prompting appellate judges to halt the video upon discovering it was synthetic and to insist on live testimony Business InsiderPeople.com. Beyond procedural headaches, deceptive AI exhibits risk undermining evidentiary integrity and public confidence in judicial outcomes.
