A manipulated video that reached around 2 million views
A case that sparked a lot of discussion involved Faton Hajrizi, a prisoner who escaped from prison in Kosovo and was killed in Serbia, a few days later, on July 19. However, on July 31, a video was shared on Facebook claiming to show Hajrizi, who said he was 'alive'. This false video was actually taken from the original video published on July 8 and manipulated to appear as if it were new. The manipulated video went viral, reaching around two million views. Krypometer, a fact-checker in Kosovo, verified the video as being false.
A very useful tool to verify the described video is InVID. You can use it by following a few simple steps:
1. Open the InVID website, download the verification plugin, and add it as a browser extension in Chrome.
2. Go to your extension list in Chrome, find the InVID icon on your toolbar, and click it.
3. Once InVID is open, select ‘video analysis’ from the menu.
4. Copy and paste the video URL into the analysis box in the InVID tool and click ‘submit’.
5. InVID will identify keyframes, breaking the video into individual frames for easier analysis.
6. Perform a reverse image search. InVID will generate thumbnails from the video, and you can use tools like Google or Baidu to analyze them.
This analysis established that the said viral video concerning Faton Hajrizi was related to a different event that happened a couple of days earlier. This shows that verification tools such as InVID are important for ensuring the reliability of content available in the online information environment.
A viral image generated by AI
In December, many international media outlets reported on the harsh conditions faced by political prisoners under the Assad regime in Syria. However, false images also circulated during the same period, some of which were generated by AI tools. One such case involved a photo allegedly showing a prisoner from the “Saydnaya” prison in Syria. This image was verified as false by Misbar, an Arab fact-check platform.
For the above-mentioned case, I will explain how to verify an image using Google Lens:
1. When you find the image you want to verify, scan it by right-clicking on the image and choosing the option ‘Search Image with Google Lens’ from the menu.
2. A new panel on the right side of the screen will open with a reverse image search. The next step is to analyze the results, checking if the same image has been published by other sources. Additionally, it is important to look for signs of an AI-generated or manipulated image.
3. Cross-check the details provided in the results. Identify credible sources or fact-checking platforms that have verified the image. If the image appears in multiple fact-checking reports, especially from well-known platforms, you can confirm whether it is authentic or fake.
Another useful tool that can be used here is TinEye. How to use this tool:
1. Launch your web browser and visit www.tineye.com.
2. If the image is on the device, click on the ‘Upload’ button and attach the file. If the image is on the internet, you can right-click on the image to copy its URL and paste it into the search bar provided on TinEye.
3. Click the search icon to the right of the image, and TinEye will start working on the image. This tool will search for matches in its database and display the results
4. TinEye will provide a list of online sources where the image has been found, along with details such as the dates and times when the image was published.
5. Analyze the results by reviewing the list of websites and determining if the image has been manipulated.
Sharing verified information on social media
It is important to counteract disinformation by sharing verified information because it benefits society as a whole. Providing accurate information about disinformation helps to keep the public well-informed. Disseminating verified content also strengthens society’s resilience against future disinformation campaigns. Not only does this combat disinformation, but it also promotes awareness and encourages others to think critically. By taking these actions collectively, we can enhance the integrity of digital environments and foster a more informed society.