Verifying Content: Images
Ten tips to ask yourself when fact-checking photos:
- Can you find when the picture was first used?
- What is the context the picture was used in?
- Who is in the picture? Do they fit in? What clothes are they wearing? Is it the right style for the country the picture was allegedly taken in?
- What is the weather like in the photo? If the photo is recent, is it the right season for that country?
- Look at any writing in the photo, like road signs and shopfronts. Is it in the correct language?
- Check for inconsistent lighting or slight variations in light or colour in the photo. If some objects seem brighter or duller than others, there is a chance they could have been added or digitally manipulated.
- If there are distortions along the edges of people or objects, the picture has probably been poorly manipulated.
- Check, check and check again, before you tweet or post.
- If someone posts something that is old or “fake”, politely let them know.
- Be part of the solution! Follow these tips so you do not contribute to “fake” news.