Blurred Boundaries of Truth: A Review of Deepfakes and Fake News

Fake news and deepfake (FN & DF) technology have emerged as critical areas of inquiry within internet commerce and digital communication research. Deepfake technology significantly influences the creation and rapid dissemination of fake news. The study takes a pioneering step in addressing inconsistencies within the existing literature by providing a clear and more comprehensive synthesis of how deepfakes contribute to spreading fake news. Following PRISMA guidelines, the study analyzes 34 articles using a thematic categorization framework. The review makes three primary contributions. First, it highlights current research patterns and emerging trends in this domain. Second, it identifies five themes associated with the FN & DF literature: Identity-Driven Dissemination, Cognitive Bias and Emotional Realism, Trust Erosion and Epistemic Uncertainty, Platform Incentives and Corrective Strategies, and Governance, Ethics, and Detection. Third, based on these themes, it proposes a conceptual framework reflecting antecedents, drivers, moderators, mediators, and outcomes. The study outlines future research directions and offers practical implications.