How to Spot Manipulated Photos and Videos
Journalists play a crucial role in providing accurate information to the public, but with the rise of technology, it has become increasingly challenging to differentiate between genuine and doctored or altered photos or videos. With the widespread use of photo editing software, it has become easier for individuals with malicious intent to manipulate visual content and present it as authentic. However, there are various methods journalists can use to detect doctored or altered photos or videos to ensure that they provide accurate and trustworthy information to the public.
Here are some tips for journalists to detect doctored or altered photos or video.
CHECK THE SOURCE
One of the first things journalists should do is check the source of the photo or video. Is it from a reputable news organization or a questionable source, such as a “pink slime” site? If the source is not reputable, it is crucial to investigate further and verify the authenticity of the content. It is also essential to check if the photo or video has been shared via other credible news sources. This is a starting point: from here, you can begin researching the context of the video or image you suspect of manipulation.
CHECK FOR INCONSISTENCIES
Another way to detect a doctored or altered photo or video is to look for inconsistencies. Are there any noticeable changes in the background or the lighting of the image or video? Do the people or objects in the image or video look disproportionate or blurry? Are there any glitches or unnatural movements in the video? These inconsistencies could be an indication of manipulation. Deepfakes, despite being scary tools with which to spread misinformation, are often rife with inconsistencies, such as one that showed Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy surrendering to Russian forces, in which his head did not correctly blend in with the background, and had him speaking in a different accent.
ANALYZE THE METADATA
Metadata is information about the photo or video, such as the timestamp, date, and location, which can help determine the authenticity of the content. Analyze the metadata and compare it with the information provided in the photo or video. If the metadata does not match the content, it is likely that the content has been doctored or altered. Unfortunately, metadata is also easily manipulated, so it cannot be fully relied upon as a test.
USE REVERSE IMAGE SEARCH
Reverse image search is a useful tool that can help identify if the photo or video has been manipulated. Reverse image search allows journalists to upload the image to search engines like Google or TinEye, which can provide information on the origin of the image or video and whether it has been edited or manipulated. It can also bring up pieces of the photo or video that are a match for existing content, and may, with cross-referencing, be able to contextualize the pieces of the doctored object that were spliced together.
SEEK EXPERT ANALYSIS
If the journalist is still unsure about the authenticity of the photo or video, seeking expert analysis from a reputable source can be helpful. There are various forensic analysis tools and experts who can analyze the photo or video and provide a detailed report on its authenticity.
In addition to these tips, journalists can also use various fact-checking tools to verify the authenticity of the photo or video. Tools like FactCheck.org, Politifact, and Snopes can help determine the accuracy of the content and identify if it has been manipulated.
In conclusion, detecting doctored or altered photos or videos is crucial for journalists to ensure that they provide accurate and trustworthy information to the public. By following these tips and using fact-checking tools, journalists can identify if the content has been manipulated and provide accurate information to their audience on how, why, and who may have manipulated these pieces and to what end.
