Apple has released the latest version of its operating system, iOS 18.1, which introduces a powerful AI-based editing feature. Known as Clean Up, this functionality allows users to remove unwanted objects from photos while maintaining a natural look to the image. Although this feature has not yet been officially released in Italy, its global debut is already raising questions about its potential impact on society and the security of visual information.
The ability to remove distracting elements from a photo within seconds offers creative potential for users but also introduces a risk of widespread image manipulation. This ease of use could indeed encourage the spread of altered and fake images, undermining trust in digital visual content.
How Does Apple Clean Up Feature Work?
The Clean Up feature in iOS 18.1 leverages artificial intelligence to enable users to automatically or manually select objects to be removed from photos, such as people, animals, or other distracting elements. This technology allows for the removal of unwanted details so that the image appears unaltered, as if the elements were never there. The system performs optimally on simple backgrounds or those without complex details, though it struggles more with highly textured images.
Easy Manipulation: No Skills Required
One of the most impactful aspects of the Clean Up feature is its accessibility: removing objects from a photo becomes as simple as a tap on the screen. In the past, making such modifications required advanced knowledge of editing software like Photoshop, but with iOS 18.1, even users with no technical skills can achieve extremely realistic results. This approach makes image editing accessible to everyone, further blurring the line between authentic and manipulated content.
Use Cases and Negative Impacts of Image Manipulation
The accessibility of the Clean Up feature brings with it numerous risks of misuse. Here are some use cases in which image manipulation could have harmful consequences:
1. Traffic Accidents and Insurance: Photos of car accidents could be altered to hide crucial details such as scratches, minor bumps, or pre-existing damage. A customer might submit an altered photo to claim higher compensation or even to completely fabricate damage. This type of manipulation increases the risk of fraud, making it more challenging for insurance companies to accurately assess claim legitimacy.
2. Property Damage Documentation: In the insurance industry, photos of damaged property are essential for documenting claims and requesting compensation. With easy editing, a property owner could alter images of a property or asset to exaggerate the severity of damage. This behavior not only harms insurance companies but also leads to higher premiums for all customers.
3. Product Authenticity in E-commerce: Online sellers could use the Clean Up feature to alter a product’s appearance, removing flaws or signs of wear to make it look new. This poses a risk to consumers, who might unknowingly purchase manipulated products without being aware of their true condition.
4. Visual Evidence in Legal Contexts: Altered photos could be presented in court as visual evidence to support a legal case. By manipulating images of crime scenes, accidents, or visual testimonies, one could deceive the judge or influence the verdict. This raises serious concerns about the reliability of digital evidence in legal proceedings.
5. Identity and Social Media Profiles: The Clean Up function can be used to modify identity photos or social media profiles, removing distinctive marks and falsifying the user’s identity. This could be used for fraudulent purposes or to deceive others, increasing the risks of digital fraud and identity theft.
6. Alteration of Historical or Documentary Images: In historical or journalistic contexts, image manipulation can alter the meaning or context of documented events. For example, removing people or objects from historical images to manipulate event narratives poses a threat to information integrity and collective historical memory.
These examples show how a feature designed to enhance user experience can actually introduce significant risks of manipulation and misinformation, impacting various sectors and undermining trust in visual content.
The Impact on Misinformation and Reality Perception
The availability of such advanced image manipulation tools raises serious concerns about visual misinformation. In an era where digital content is widely disseminated, image manipulation can be used to deceive the public about events, places, or people, contributing to the creation of visual “fake news.” For instance, photos of public figures could be altered to attribute actions or behaviors they have never committed, or images of events could be modified to change their original context and meaning.
This situation is further complicated by the fact that once a fake image is shared, controlling its spread becomes difficult. Even if an image is later discovered to have been manipulated, it is often too late to prevent the damage, as visual misinformation tends to travel quickly on social media and go viral. This presents a significant challenge for social media platforms and regulatory authorities, who must find effective ways to identify and limit the spread of manipulated content.
Cybersecurity and the Authenticity of Visual Data
This new feature in iOS 18.1 highlights the importance of cybersecurity and the authenticity of visual data, especially in a world where image manipulation is accessible to everyone. Organizations and companies are facing increasingly complex challenges to ensure that the visual information they rely on is authentic and unaltered. In this context, the need for tools that can certify the authenticity of images becomes essential to prevent visual evidence from being manipulated or questioned.
For companies operating in sensitive sectors like finance, law, and government, the ability to demonstrate the authenticity of images is crucial. Image manipulation not only exposes companies to potential fraud but also undermines the trust of customers and the public, compromising their reputation. This is an issue that cannot be resolved solely through regulation; it requires the adoption of advanced technologies capable of reliably and securely authenticating visual content.
How TrueScreen Ensures Authenticity and Protection Against Manipulation
In a context where image manipulation is becoming easier and more widespread, tools like TrueScreen are essential to guarantee the authenticity of visual data. TrueScreen is a cybersecurity platform that enables the certification of the authenticity of images, videos, and other multimedia files, protecting them from unauthorized modifications. With patented forensic technology, TrueScreen can prevent any attempt at alteration, offering companies and users a secure and reliable solution to protect visual data.
This technology is especially valuable in business and legal contexts, where the authenticity of visual content is critical to making informed and reliable decisions.
