Santiago Lyon, Head of Advocacy and Education for the Adobe-led Content Authenticity Initiative, noted, “We’re living in a time where we have zero empirical evidence about the origins of anything we consume online. Trust is based on habit, hearsay, or gossip.”
His work at Adobe focuses on embedding authenticity in digital files - what he calls a “digital nutrition label” - that will allow viewers to see the origins and any manipulations of an image.
The discussion underscored the urgent need for transparency, regulation, and education.
“The industry needs to establish clear distinctions: Are you a journalist or an artist?” questioned Mohammed Muheisen, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer and National Geographic Explorer. “Journalism demands truth, while art allows interpretation. If AI is involved, it must be disclosed. It’s that simple.”
Veronique de Viguerie, an award-winning French photographer, agreed. “We must be relentless in maintaining ethical standards. It is no longer just about capturing reality—it’s about proving it. Transparency is our only hope.”
Manipulation is not new, but it’s faster than ever in the era of AI
Photo manipulation is not a recent phenomenon. Maria Mann, an American photojournalism consultant, noted the precarious role of editors, who have the power to alter captions, crop images, and frame narratives. “Bias can be subtle; a single edit can change the meaning of an image entirely.”
De Viguerie echoed this sentiment. “If we allow even minor manipulations, we open the door to more significant distortions.” Yet, she also recognised the role of social media in accountability. “In some ways, social media has become a safeguard. If a false image is widely circulated, it will eventually be debunked. But that doesn’t undo the damage done in the meantime”, she added.
Salim Amin, leader of Camerapix, raised concerns about preserving historical archives. “We have original negatives to verify authenticity, but once something goes digital, control is lost. What happens when an AI-generated image is mistaken for history?”
The takeaway was clear: Journalism must evolve to meet the challenges of the digital age. Truth remains the cornerstone of photojournalism - but in an era of artificial realities, proving what is real has never been more critical.
The seven-day International Photography Festival (Xposure) 2025 runs until February 26. For more information, visit,
www.xposure.net.
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