Google Expands Image Fact Checking and Source Verification

On Wednesday, Google rolled out three updates for fact-checking, context-sourcing, and image verification integration.

In recent years, social platforms have grappled with users’ rampant use of images and videos out of context. Governments kept up the pressure on search engines and social media sites to reduce misinformation to acceptable levels.

The global release of the About This Image tool, introduced in May, constitutes the first update. It makes essential background information and origin details of images in Google Search easily accessible.

About This Image provides historical data, such as when the search engine first spotted the image. Additionally, it will generate a list of web pages that published the photo, making it easier to detect wrong associations.

Moreover, it will present a catalog of how other sites used and described the image, including information from fact-checking sites. In addition, About This Image displays metadata and any extra information the original creators and publishers have attached to the image.

Google’s second update involves adding new image search capabilities to Fact Check Explorer (FCE), its fact-checking database for independent organizations. Approved journalists access the archive via a Google application programming interface (API) to aid their investigations.

Lastly, the third update refers to an initial-stage, small-scale experiment using generative AI (GenAI) models to introduce unfamiliar websites. AI-summarized descriptions from information sourced from credible sites will help users assess relatively unknown websites.

Fact-Checking Critical to Google Moving Forward

In a 2023 study, nonprofit media institute Poynter revealed that over 70.00% of respondents lacked confidence in verifying online images. Furthermore, spreading manipulated or out-of-context photos has become the leading cause of misinformation and disinformation.

As a result, tech companies scrambled to research and develop new technologies to give more information about images. Adobe (ADBE) released a three-part toolkit for verifying image credentials as a part of its Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI).

Meanwhile, X (Twitter) launched Community Notes as its primary crowdsourced fact-checking program. On the other hand, Facebook (META) has continuously expanded the scope of its Transparency Center in recent years.

Hence, fact-checking innovation has become necessary for Google and other tech companies to maintain competitiveness.