The picture below is an internet favorite of the sunset over the North Pole. It is fake. It's not even a real photograph. It was designed and executed by artist Inga Nielson, but once the internet got hold of it, the visual took a life of it's own.
This article in Forbes showed several space pictures that were fakes. The article also described ways to detect manipulated images from fakes, but does anyone care.
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| Picture source: Forbes |
I'm writing this blog while on vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and like most popular vacation spots, the Outer Banks has ample opportunities to view and capture the many blessings of sight provided by this planet.
I'm having trouble writing this assignment. It would be helpful if I could just blame my issues on the nice weather or the ocean a few steps away, but that is not the case. The truth is I'm ashamed to write it.
I'm ashamed that as an intelligent life force we have allowed fake news and manipulation of the truth be it in visuals, sound, or pictures to become rampant.
It's okay to be fooled once in awhile. Actually, with newer technology and techniques, its okay to be fooled a lot.
But there is a huge difference in being fooled and being complicit in propagating lies. There is even more of a difference when the lies are known to be lies but they still spread.
However, the sustainability of fake news is its super power. If everyone can be trusted or no one can be trusted, everything is real news or everything is fake news depending on what is already believed.
Imagine speaking to the early artists and inventors of photographs. Their one goal is to visually reproduce the finest detail of what they see with their own eyes. Imagine speaking to them about how even pictures taken from a camera can be made fake. I wonder what their comments would be.
Deep fake videos are becoming more and more prevalent as a tool for spreading disinformation. Some believe that deep fake videos are one of the most dangerous techniques available to cyber warfare and will only get worse. The Federalist Society produced an article on deep fakes and implications to national security.
I found it deeply embarrassing and offensive to see how much fake news and it's tentacles are part of our lives.
I love the picture you chose for the blog, Chad. This is a perfect example and I do believe manipulated picture are fake news in a way. Being fooled is almost the new normal. I probably has seen so many breathtaking views of sunsets that are extremely edited and photoshopped like the one you showed us. Being fooled is sadly normal.
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