Why preventing digital media fraud is more effective than relying on reactive detection

"Why do users need to capture new photos during inspections instead of uploading existing ones?” 

It’s one of the most common questions we hear about Truepic Vision.

The answer is simple: as AI-generated content and digital manipulation become more advanced, bad actors can easily create fake images, alter real ones, or edit details like the date and time—often without leaving a trace.

The only way to ensure trustworthy results is to prevent tampering at the source.

How digital media can be manipulated

Digital media manipulation has become more accessible and more challenging to detect as new tools and technologies evolve. Here are some common ways that the contents and associated information about photos and videos can be manipulated—

AI-generated content: AI models can produce entirely fake yet convincingly real images. Malicious actors can use these tools to create deceptive images of properties, vehicles, or products that do not exist or misrepresent their actual condition. A recent study found that only about 54% of individuals could correctly identify AI-generated content, underscoring the difficulty of distinguishing between real and fake imagery.

Photo editing software: Popular photo editing tools allow users to easily manipulate images and videos, modifying anything from the appearance of a vehicle to the condition of a property. Once completed, these alterations can be nearly impossible to detect, posing significant challenges for verifying authenticity.

Metadata manipulation: Information about an image—such as a photo's time and location details—can be easily edited using various tools, even by individuals with minimal technical expertise. Editing can be done directly from a mobile device in just a few clicks, making it possible to present an old image as recent or claim it was taken in a different location.

Location Spoofing: Location spoofing apps modify a device’s GPS coordinates to falsely report an incorrect location. These apps can trick services into believing the user is in a different place, posing a significant challenge when verifying that an item is actually at a specific location.

Truepic's approach to preventing manipulation

Truepic takes a proactive approach to preventing digital media manipulation. Instead of attempting to detect manipulation after it has occurred, Truepic ensures the integrity of the media from the moment of capture. 

Truepic’s patented Controlled Capture technology enables users to capture trusted images and videos directly on their mobile devices. Here’s how it ensures authenticity:

• Checks that the device is secure: Confirms that the mobile device is secure, identifying compromised devices (e.g., jailbroken or rooted) that could enable image tampering.
• Checks that the camera has not been tampered with: Ensures that photos and videos are captured directly with the device’s camera, preventing the use of pre-existing or externally sourced images.
• Checks that there is no tampering when images are uploaded: Verifies that images and videos are uploaded to Truepic Vision servers without any edits or manipulation during transfer.
• Confirms time and date accuracy: Uses a time-stamping authority (TSA) to verify that the device’s time and date are correct and have not been altered.
• Verifies location: Displays the location at the moment of capture and verifies that the GPS data matches, detecting and preventing location spoofing.

In addition to ensuring images have not been tampered with,  Truepic also takes measures to ensure the photos and videos captured do not misrepresent the inspection: 

• Detect a “picture of a picture”: Flags if the photo is taken of a computer screen or paper printout
• Performs as reverse image search: Flags if the photo already exists on the internet or has previously been submitted to Truepic Vision.

By ensuring that all media is captured in a controlled, verified environment, Truepic can guarantee the integrity of the inspection process and protect against fraud and manipulation. 

Tamper-proof virtual inspections 

Secure camera technology is a critical safeguard against digital manipulation. With AI-generated content and digital tampering on the rise, taking proactive steps to secure the authenticity of photos and videos ensures trustworthy inspections and reliable results.

If you're interested in exploring how Truepic Vision can help your organization without the risk of relying on manipulated images, contact us to see a demo of the solution.