5. Fact-Checking Photos – part 2

A Deeper Dive into Advanced Tools and Techniques

Robert Bourgoing/20 November 2024

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Verifying images online often requires multiple tools for a comprehensive investigation. This tutorial highlights alternative image verification methods to complement Google Lens.

Each platform offers unique strengths. Yandex excels in facial recognition and visually similar images, particularly for Eastern Europe. Baidu shines in Chinese and Asian contexts, though its interface may challenge non-Chinese readers. TinEye allows sorting by publication date, a key feature for tracing image origins, even with a smaller database. Meanwhile, Bing’s visual search integrates well with Microsoft tools but has a narrower scope.

For efficiency, install the Search by Image extension. With a single right-click, you can send a query to multiple platforms simultaneously, maximizing your chances of finding the image’s origin.

An example is a photo falsely linked to Ukraine’s Donbas. TinEye helped trace it to an Australian cattle association’s 2011 competition. Using Wayback Machine, the archived page revealed it as part of a heartwarming story from 2009, not propaganda.

Fact-checking is a blend of technology, creativity, and persistence. With these tools, you’ll uncover the real story behind any image, proving once again how rewarding online investigation can be!

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