wniren@pyrtech (Walter Nirenberg) (02/15/90)
Hi. My friend is a 2nd year law student and she is working on a fascinating project with which she needs a little help. Basically, she is investigating the impact of recent computer graphics technology advances on the use of video and photographs as courtroom evidence. As many of you may know, it has been possible over the past few years to manipulate photographs and videos at a bit-level using new generations of graphics computers. The results are that you can completely alter what these media display. A somewhat recent example is a past National Geographic magazine where the editors actually moved some scenery closer together on the cover photo to make everything fit in the small space available. This was done using some expensive computer equipment which digitized the picture enabling them to manipulate the photo so well that the modifications were completely undetectable. To take this further, the equipment to do this type of work has been very expensive in the past. Now, with machines like the Amiga and the Atari ST, anyone with a few thousand dollars can do this kind of work. Photos and videos are still admissable as courtroom evidence in most situations. However, with these new "advances", can we trust these forms any more? Think of the impact..a criminal could possibly be let loose based on a photo showing someone else perpetrating the crime. Newspapers and TV networks could change what the public sees. We're talking about a tremendous potential for "disinformation" to quote our wonderful government (by the way, isn't that a fancy word to mean "to lie"?). So. What we need is information of a technical and intellectual nature pertaining to this topic. Is there software available for these inexpensive machines to enable average people to do this? Has anyone seen examples of this kind of manipulation? etc. Thanks in advance and please cc replies to my mail address: wniren@pyrtech.pyramid.com Walter Nirenberg, Pyramid Technology, (415)335-8730
Dave_Ninjajr_Flory@cup.portal.com (02/16/90)
Sure it can be done. The problem is no different from a witness who lies, tho' Any photo, video, etc. is only as reliable as the jury thinks the presenter is. If they believe him/her when s/he says the picture/video is an accurate presentation of the facts, then they believe the video. If they believe the other attorney who says it was changed, then the video is worthless even if it is accurate. D.FLORY - GEnie dave_ninjajr_flory@portal.cup.com You don't get to be a grey haired Ninja rider by riding like a fool!! The bodies of those who did are familiar to me.......
eugene@eos.UUCP (Eugene Miya) (02/16/90)
This is very easily done. It has been done for years.
You don't need a computer, in fact it is easier without one.
If you look hard you will find a book on the Soviet doctoring of
photographs. I saw a copy at Printer's Inc in Mtn. View.
But not since that time. The quality varies. Manipulation is
strictly a matter of cost: how much it is worth to you and how
much you are willing to pay. Remember, the hand is quicker than
the eye. I dare say you can completely stage a scene to fool even
the most fervent pro/con gun control fanatic. 8)
This message had no place in ba.general. Please keep it in the
amiga groups.
Another gross generalization from
--eugene miya, NASA Ames Research Center, eugene@aurora.arc.nasa.gov
resident cynic at the Rock of Ages Home for Retired Hackers:
"You trust the `reply' command with all those different mailers out there?"
"If my mail does not reach you, please accept my apology."
{ncar,decwrl,hplabs,uunet}!ames!eugene
Do you expect anything BUT generalizations on the net?
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