Fake News, Deepfakes, and the Crisis of Digital Trust: Media Ethics, Information Authenticity, and Public Perception in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

The rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence has reshaped the digital information environment and intensified concerns regarding fake news, deepfakes, media ethics, information authenticity, and public perception. This study examined the crisis of digital trust in AI-driven communication systems using a quantitative research design. Data were collected from a sample of 350 respondents selected from active digital media users. A structured questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale was used for data collection. Statistical analysis involved descriptive evaluation of variables to understand user perceptions of misinformation exposure, ethical standards, and information credibility. The findings revealed high levels of concern regarding fake news (M = 4.18), deepfake content (M = 4.11), and information authenticity (M = 4.23). Media ethics recorded the highest mean value (M = 4.29), indicating strong emphasis on ethical communication practices. Public perception and digital trust showed comparatively lower mean values (M = 4.15, M = 4.08), reflecting declining confidence in online information systems. Reliability analysis confirmed strong internal consistency across all variables with Cronbach’s alpha values above 0.80. The study highlighted that misinformation and synthetic media significantly influenced public trust and information evaluation behavior. The results emphasized the need for ethical governance and verification systems to reduce misinformation risks and strengthen digital trust in AI-driven environments.