Decoding deception, detecting distortion

1. Photo manipulation- easy to check, using tools such as Google Reverse Search
2. Video tricks- close examination of the video and finding the original video
3. Watch for deceptive headlines, opinions presented as facts, distortion, made-up facts, neglected
details
4. Pseudo-experts, imagined experts and misrepresented experts- how to check their credentials
and their statements
5. Using the media- watch for false claims gained by referencing mainstream media
6. Manipulating Data- look at the methodology, the questions, the clients

1. Photo Manipulation

It is the easiest way to fake news, but also the simplest to expose. There are two common techniques of
photo manipulation. The first is editing photos in special programs, such as Adobe Photoshop. The
second is presenting real photos as having been taken at another time or place.

1.1 photo editing

 2.showing real photos, but done at another time or in another place

A brief Summary
- pay attention to the images with thw largest resolution and size. The resolution of photo
decreases with each new edit, so the photo of the largest size or with the best resolution is
the least edited
- pay attention to the date of publication. The image with the earliest date is closest to the
original
- reread the photo captions. Two identical images can have different descriptions
- fake photos are not just cropped or edited, but can also be mirrored
- search the particular website, social network or domain

2. Manipulating Videos

Exposing fake videos is much more difficult and time-consuming. Watch the video and look for
discrepancies: inaccurate gluing, distorted proportions or strange moments. Look at the details:
shadows, reflections and the sharpness of different elements.

2.1 Using old videos to illustrate new events

 2.2 placing a video-0r part of it- in another context

Reality: The refugees refuse food after spending the night in the rain without being able to cross the
border.

Another context: Muslim migrants refused food aid from the Red Cross because the packaging was
marked with cross.

2.3. building a completely fake video

Creating totally fake videos requires a lot of time and money. It is often used to create propaganda. They
are clumsy and easy to expose

Ex. Lessons of Russophobia ( schoolchildren look older than their age )

3 . Manipulating News

3.1 publishing a true piece of news under a false title

Putting misleading title on real news is one of the most common fake new techniques.

Ex. Watch: London Muslim Mayor Encourages Muslims to Riot During Trump’s Visit to the UK

London Muslim mayor incited Islamic-based hatred against president Trump. He took every
opportunity to lash out at the US president for daring to criticize Islam and to ban terrorists from
entering America. Now he warns Trump not to come to the UK because “peace-loving” Muslims
who represent the “religion of peace” will have to riot, demonstrate and protest during his visit to
the UK. 

Sadiq Khan himself incited hatred against the US president among British Muslims. Shame on a
Muslim mayor of London.  

3.2 Presenting opinion as a fact

Example: Fact or opinion?

Some Russian media said that Turkey would be thrown out of NATO on November
2015. Ukraina.ru reported: “Turkey should not be a member of NATO; it should be thrown out
of the Alliance. This was announced by retired US Army Major General and senior
military analyst for Fox News Paul Vallely.”

3.3 Distorting a fact

3.4 presenting completely made-up information as fact

3.5 neglecting important details that completely change the context of the news

4. Manipulation with Expert Assessments

4.1 Psuedo experts and tink tanks

Real experts are often well-known locally and in the professional community. Pseudo-experts
often appear once and then disappear.
4.2 Inventing experts from scratch

Sometimes completely fake persons are presented in the media as experts to promote particular
political views or push the audience to certain decisions

Ex. LTC David Jewberg, Senior Pentagon Russia Analyst(imagined persona)

Drew Cloud,expert on US student loans

4.3 twisting experts’ statements or faking them

Manipulators distort the meaning of experts’ words, particularly by pulling phrases out of
context

Ex. Deanne Carson, sexuality director

She said parents could ask children if it is okay to change their diapers to teach them that “their
response matter” ( parents should ask a baby’s permission before changing their diaper)

4.4 translating the words of an expert in a manipulative way

This method is often used when translating from English into other languages.

Ex. German to Russian ( annexation vs. re-unification)

5. Manipulation with Media Messages

Our tendency to trust reputable media and treat them uncritically is used by propagandists and
manipulators
5.1 using messages of marginal media or blogs

Suspicious messages often are spread by the marginal media with solid-sounding names,
claiming they came from reputable media

Ex. Vzglyad ( business newspaper) cited Western Media(untrustworthy online newspaper)

Reporting dispute over repatriation of the bodies of 13 Americans killed while fighting in the
Ukraine

5.2 Toggling real messages of reputable media

News reported by the media can get twisted by “fake news” media

Ex. California Congresswoman Maxine Waters about impeaching President Trump (pulled from
CNN, quote wasn’t hers, image taken from another interview)

5.3 references to non-existing messages of reputable media

Ex. Russian site circulated a fake story claiming that a gold mine was discovered by Russian
geologists. The alleged source is Bloomberg, but the hyperlink didn’t go to its website.

6 Manipulations with data

Sociological survey data and economic indicators can be manipulated.

6.1 methodological manipulation

surveys may have weak methodologies

Ex. Survey of research center asking, “Would you like to see Muslims as your fellow citizens?”
( not indicative of love or dislike for Muslims)

6.2 misrepresentation of results

one of the attributes of propaganda is the attempt to appear to be truthful and authentic.
So propagandist claims often resort to distorted survey results.
6.3 Invalid comparisons

Ex. Food prices in Ukraine have grown equal to those in Europe in February 2018