Public Service Announcement: Pictures are spoofable

      Long and short of it is that technology has reached the point where it’s easy enough to make ‘realistic’ images of someone doing… anything. While there are a couple qualifiers, they aren’t big enough to be reassuring.
First, it’s not trivially easy, as it does require some basic computer knowledge and ability to follow guides. Two skills that should be found in the vast majority of the population (whether they are is another topic). But it’s no longer restricted to the realm of professional artists and/or expensive studios.
Second, sample pictures have to be available. The number needed is disturbingly small, but we aren’t yet at the point where pictures of you can be made from nothing. But if you are like too many people, a quick visit to your social media account will provide more then enough pictures.

      That being said, the sky is not falling. The ability to spoof images is not new. It’s just the barrier of entry has come way down, while the quality of results has gone way up. We are at the point I would treat any image you can’t verify the chain of custody like the latest blockbuster movie. Which is to say it may look amazing, it may look as realistic as the world around you, but it’s not real. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, ‘seeing is believing‘ appears to be hardwired into us.

Technology
      Worth noting the technology doesn’t care, it’s neutral. It will happily paint you up any way asked, strip you naked, or dress you up, anything anywhere. It’s the way the technology is used that decide value. Want to have a laugh among friends and family? Or do you want to get your office rival arrested? Same tool, very different uses.

      And it will only get easier going forward. That is the nature of our computer technology. While the context is a bit different, the idea behind the quote ‘attacks always get better‘ holds. What once took skill and expertise is eventually automated to the point anyone can do it.

Actions
      While it’s probably too late to take anything down (but you could if you wanted), it may be a good time to reconsider putting online any new pictures of yourself (or anyone you care about).

      I don’t have social media accounts (unless you want to count this website), and this is part of why. Which isn’t because I saw this coming, I didn’t. But I did see the potential of what I shared being used against me. Not in detail, but the general shape of too much data being out there setting the stage for future problems. Perhaps ironic as posting this is itself a form of sharing.

      I’m not suggesting we all crawl under rocks or anything that drastic. This isn’t a call to paranoia. Although… it’s not paranoia if ‘they’ are in fact out to get you (whoever ‘they’ are). But eternal vigilance? Distrust, verify, and stay suspicious? In a perfect work, unneeded. But in the world we live in? All too prudent.

      Where do we go from here? I don’t know. But this technology (and it’s descendants) will be weaponized. In the not too distant future, someone who is otherwise innocent will be ruined by fake pictures. Sex, drugs, rock and roll? Maybe not spoofing exactly that, but something is pretty much inevitably at this point. Reversely, someone will claim legitimate images of their misbehaving are fakes. And we, the people, will have no way to tell from the pictures alone. Might be a reason the historical standard has been at least two witnesses.

Ars
      This post is inspired by an Ars Technica article. While the idea had been percolating, and I was aware of the technology and it’s steady improvement, the article makes it abundantly clear. We are at the point where a handful of images can be used as the seed for placing the person in absurd situations. The clown is the one that stood out the most to me, but the half naked in school is likely the most concerning.