December 4, 2025 — Deepfakes, a new major threat to businesses
Deepfake attacks against businesses exploded in 2025. CEO fraud via synthetic voice calls, identity theft in video conferences, creation of fake documents: the techniques are becoming industrialized. According to Europol, losses linked to deepfakes in business exceed 2 billion dollars in 2025 worldwide. French SMBs and mid-market companies, often less protected than large groups, have become prime targets.
What it changes for you
✦ The opportunity
Paradoxically, the rise of deepfakes creates an opportunity for proactive businesses: those that put verification protocols and detection tools in place earn the trust of their partners and customers. Security against deepfakes becomes a competitive advantage:
Here are the three lines of protection to put in place:
Reinforced verification protocols
Put a double-verification procedure in place for any unusual financial request: pre-established confirmation code, callback to a known landline number, validation by a second decision-maker. These simple protocols block 90% of CEO fraud attempts, whether or not they use deepfakes.
Automatic detection tools
Solutions such as Reality Defender or Sensity AI analyze audio and video streams in real time to detect the artifacts typical of deepfakes. They can be integrated into your video conferencing tools (Teams, Zoom) to automatically alert participants when suspicious content is detected.
Team training and awareness
The weak link remains human. Train your teams (primarily the finance department, executive assistants and procurement teams) to recognize deepfake attack scenarios. Quarterly simulation exercises, similar to phishing tests, embed the right reflexes.
⚠ The risk
Deepfakes are becoming undetectable to the naked eye
The quality of audio and video deepfakes is progressing faster than the human ability to detect them. An audio deepfake generated in 2025 deceives 85% of listeners in real-world conditions (University College London study). Relying on the ear or the eye is no longer enough: only algorithmic tools and procedural protocols offer reliable protection.
Legal and insurance impact
Losses linked to deepfakes are not always covered by traditional cyber insurance. Check your insurance policy and consider specific "social engineering fraud" coverage. On the legal front, the European AI Act requires deepfake providers to flag AI-generated content, but malicious actors will obviously not comply with this obligation.
Our recommendation
A three-step protection plan, deployable in less than a month:
Establish verification protocols immediately
This week, put a non-negotiable rule in place: no transfer above 5,000 euros can be triggered by a simple phone call or video conference. Require written confirmation via a separate channel (signed email, SMS to a pre-established number). Costs zero euros, deployable in 48 hours.
Train the targeted employees
Organize a 2-hour awareness session for the finance department, executive assistants and procurement teams. Show concrete examples of deepfakes (easily found online) and have them test a detection tool. Plan a simulation exercise within the following month. Budget: 500 to 2,000 euros.
Evaluate a detection tool for your video conferences
If your activity involves financial or strategic decisions in video conferences, test a deepfake detection solution compatible with your tool (Teams, Zoom). Reality Defender and Sensity AI offer free 30-day trials. The subscription afterward ranges between 200 and 800 euros per month depending on the number of users.
In summary
Frequently asked questions
What is a deepfake and how can it affect my business?
A deepfake is AI-generated audio or video content that realistically imitates a real person. In business, the most common attacks are CEO fraud (a call from the "CEO" requesting an urgent transfer), identity theft in video conferences and the creation of fake documents or video testimonials. Since 2024, losses linked to deepfakes in business have exceeded 2 billion dollars worldwide.
How do you detect an audio or video deepfake?
Visual cues (lip movements, blinking, skin textures) are becoming less and less reliable as the technology improves. Algorithmic detection tools (Reality Defender, Sensity AI) analyze digital artifacts invisible to the naked eye. In addition, human verification protocols (confirmation code, double call) remain the best defense.
Is deepfake CEO fraud common in France?
According to ANSSI, CEO fraud attempts using audio deepfakes increased by 320% in France between 2023 and 2025. One SMB in 8 has been targeted by at least one attempt. The average loss for victim companies is 85,000 euros. SMBs and mid-market companies are prime targets because they have fewer control procedures than large groups.
For technical profiles
Deepfake detection solutions
Multimodal detection
API and SDK to detect audio, video and image deepfakes in real time. Analysis of spectral (audio) and spatial (video) artifacts. Native integration with Teams and Zoom. Detection rate: 96% on audio deepfakes, 93% on video.
Deepfake monitoring platform
Proactive monitoring: detects the use of your executives' identities in deepfake content circulating online. Real-time alerts and dashboards. Particularly useful for listed or high-profile companies.
Pricing
Quick comparison
| Criterion | Reality Defender | Sensity AI | Manual detection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audio detection | 96% | 94% | 15-20% |
| Video detection | 93% | 91% | 30-40% |
| Real time | Yes | Near real time | No |
| Video conf integration | Teams, Zoom | API only | N/A |