Morphed Image

Morphed images refer to photos or graphics that have been digitally manipulated to alter their original appearance, often used to mislead audiences or spread misinformation. Such images can be created by changing text, adding or removing elements, or altering the context to fit a particular narrative. Morphed images are frequently used in politics, social movements, advertisements, and even during crises to misrepresent facts or amplify false narratives. These manipulations can range from simple edits, such as altering headlines in newspaper clippings, to complex changes that require advanced tools to detect.

In the digital era, morphed images often spread rapidly through social media, misleading audiences before they can be fact-checked. With the increasing availability of advanced image-editing software and AI tools, creating realistic-looking morphed images has become easier, making it challenging to identify false visuals. The consequences can be significant, influencing public opinion, sparking social tensions, impacting elections, or even creating financial panic by misrepresenting economic news or data.

In August 2022, BOOM fact-checked a morphed image of a Times Business newspaper clipping that falsely claimed a loss of ₹2.8 lakh crore in the 5G spectrum auction.

BOOM found that the original headline stated, "5G spectrum auctions earn Centre record ₹1.5 lakh cr," indicating a significant revenue gain, not a loss as falsely claimed.