Debunking war information disorder: A case study in assessing the use of multimedia verification tools

Abstract

This paper investigates the use of multimedia verification, in particular, computational tools and Open-source Intelligence (OSINT) methods, for verifying online multimedia content in the context of the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Our study examines the workflows and tools used by several fact-checkers and journalists working at Faktisk, a Norwegian fact-checking organization. Our study showcases the effectiveness of diverse resources, including AI tools, geolocation tools, internet archives, and social media monitoring platforms, in enabling journalists and fact-checkers to efficiently process and corroborate evidence, ensuring the dissemination of accurate information. This research provides an in-depth analysis of the role of computational tools and OSINT methods for multimedia verification. It also underscores the potentials of currently available technology, and highlights its limitations while providing guidance for future development of digital multimedia verification tools and frameworks.