Authenticating Digital Images
Photoshop is a wonderful tool to work with, that is widely used by many companies, business’, and people alike. While most like the enhancement the tool can provide to photos, videos, and such, there are those that feel as if it promotes false advertisement. Where do we draw the line between perfecting our marketing images and promoting an image that isn’t really true to form? That was a question two computer scientists from Dartmouth College took upon themselves to answer. Or perhaps rather made the opportunity to decipher a Photoshopped image possible for those who wanted to know.
Hany Farid, an Associate Computer Science Professor, along with Alin Popescu, a graduate student from Dartmouth developed a mathematical scale to determine the difference between an “original” image and one that has been altered or enhanced. They say that all digital images have statistical clues that are left on them, and that the algorithm they have developed is able to read the altered statistics. While both scientists agree that digitally altering photos is a technique that is only becoming more and more advanced their main concern is to help that of the legal system. While they realize they have developed a tool that can be used against marketing ads and the like, they are working more towards the legal aspect of it. Hany Farid believes that we are still quite in the dark when it comes to really making a great deal of advancement in showing the proof that images have been altered. He hopes to strengthen his and Alin’s tool so that it may be used in the court of law and hold up against the legal system. He makes a point by saying, “If a photo can be altered to depict a picture of Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein shaking hands, what else can be done to manipulate photos. He and his partner hope to help the legal system when reviewing images that can help to greatly affect a case in court.
As a matter of fact these Dartmouth scientists are being funded by Alfred P. Sloan fellowship, The U.S. department of Homeland Security, and the National Science Foundation. They will continue to work with law officials and other government representatives to aid in the growing knowledge of authenticating digital images.
So while Photoshop is a great tool being used to help with marketing it also has it’s darker effects. In all actuality if an image can be altered it was only a matter of time that there was a tool made to decipher image altering as well.