Health Law Advisor

The widespread availability of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools has enabled the growing use of “deepfakes,” whereby the human voice and likeness can be replicated seamlessly such that impersonations are impossible to detect with the naked eye (or ear). These deepfakes pose substantial new risks for commercial organizations. For example, deepfakes can threaten an organization’s brand, impersonate leaders and financial officers, and enable access to networks, communications, and sensitive information.

In 2023, the National Security Agency (NSA), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a Cybersecurity Information Sheet (the “Joint CSI”) entitled “Contextualizing Deepfake Threats to Organizations,” which outlines the risks to organizations posed by deepfakes and recommends steps that organizations, including national critical infrastructure companies (such as financial services, energy, healthcare and manufacturing organizations), can take to protect themselves. Loosely defining deepfakes as “multimedia that have either been created (fully synthetic) or edited (partially synthetic) using some form of machine/deep learning (artificial intelligence),” the Joint CSI cautioned that the “market is now flooded with free, easily accessible tools” such that “fakes can be produced in a fraction of the time with limited or no technical expertise.” Thus, deepfake perpetrators could be mere amateur mischief makers or savvy, experienced cybercriminals. 

The coronavirus is having a direct effect – financial and otherwise – on nearly every business.  While the long-term effects of the global pandemic will be significant and far-reaching, the short-term financial consequences to businesses, due to expected cash shortfalls, could make the difference in a company’s survival.  Here are four areas that businesses should review that could impact – and potentially improve – their financial situation:

• Lease arrangements – Landlords may be willing to accept a temporary reduction in rent rather than risk losing a good, long-term tenant, and otherwise reliable income stream, altogether. This can usually be accomplished by a simple amendment to the lease agreement.
• Debt covenants – Companies that have credit facilities often are subject to debt covenants in favor of the lender that are tested periodically.  Typical debt covenants that could be violated in times of financial crises include minimum financial tests, or ratios, based on a company’s income, assets, working capital, net worth and equity.  Covenants that consist of operational milestones could be impacted as well.  It’s good practice for companies to approach their lenders and seek amendments (or temporary waivers) to their covenants before those covenants are tripped, rather than afterwards, when the company is in default.