Tips for spotting a fake image: Insights from ABC News Story Lab’s guide
Author Kathy Nickels
Date 16 September 2024
Struggling to determine if images online are fake or real? As technology behind image manipulation becomes increasingly sophisticated, distinguishing between authentic and fabricated images is more challenging than ever.
To help spot what’s real and what’s fake, ABC News Story Lab team has created an interactive guide titled How to spot a fake. The guide features insights from Dr T J Thomson, a senior lecturer at RMIT and affiliate of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society.
Dr Thomson demonstrates key methods for identifying image manipulation including the use of digital forensics tool – WeVerify, reverse image search, examining contextual clues, and spotting logical inconsistencies.
Dr Thomson also warns that as AI tools evolve, detecting fake images may become even more difficult, with generative AI increasingly capable of creating convincing images without obvious flaws.
Whether images have been doctored using technology invented last century or last week, the same rules apply.
In addition to visual cues in the image itself it is helpful to also consider the broader context, such as who posted the image and whether other sources corroborate the event depicted.
Read the full article, How to spot a fake, for more detailed tips and insights.
