Google has integrated tools into Google Search to perform a fact check on images or to check sources for credibility.
Google has had the “About this image” function since this year. As of now, it is being expanded for English-speaking users. “About this image” now also provides a context to check images for their credibility.
For example, the history of an image is displayed. Meaning: When this image or similar images first appeared in Google search, possibly much earlier on other websites. This can be helpful when images are taken out of context and made to refer to new events, when in fact they are much older.
It also provides context as to how other websites are using the image and also describing it. News and fact-check sites are then cited here, for example. Helpful when claims are made. It also allows one to come across evidence and other perspectives from other sources.
On top of that, the metadata of an image, if available, is also part of the context information. For example, image authors or publishers are added, or information on whether an image was generated or enhanced by AI. Images generated by Google AI are marked accordingly in the original file.
Access to the tool is available in Google Images results via the three dots (“About this event”). Further access options are to follow in the coming months.
With the “Fact Check Explorer“, Google offers journalists and fact checkers a powerful tool to inform themselves about a topic. Users can view fact checks from independent organizations. An image search, which had already been in beta since the summer, is now also a component here. Here, it was possible to greatly shorten the investigation times for images. Images can be added via a URL. Also here one shows different contexts to pictures.
In addition, the image search function moves into a beta version of the corresponding API (FactCheck Claim Search API). Approved journalists and fact checkers can access this and integrate this analysis option into their own solutions.
On top of that, Google is experimenting with generative AI to assist with searches. This should make it possible to learn more about the source of information. So far, this tool is available for users of the Search Lab for Search Generative Experience (SGE). Here one shows AI-generated descriptions of some sources. They are supposed to help in classifying information of the web pages. The AI-generated descriptions of the source are shown in the “More about this page” section of “About this result” for some sources for which there is no overview from Wikipedia or Google Knowledge Graph. However, one is still in the early stages here.