Combatting online crime and safeguarding victims is an ever-evolving challenge.  

Digital content continues to grow in volume and complexity, and bad actors are integrating new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), into their strategies at a rapid rate. Therefore, image forensics tools are becoming even more vital for investigators to not only keep up with these techniques, but to identify them proactively.   

To help you better understand image forensics platforms and how they work, here are the answers to some important questions.

What is an image forensics tool?

Image forensics tools allow you to extract and analyse data from images. Depending on the type of information you need, you might use image forensics techniques to determine where a picture was taken or the camera used, for instance. 

If you’d like to learn more about digital image forensics, our quick guide to digital image forensics is a helpful resource. 

How can I safeguard victims of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) using an image forensics tool? 

By mining granular data from large sets of images, forensics tools can help you safeguard the victims of multiple crimes.  

However, investigations into the creation and spread of child sexual abuse material are particularly complex. An image could contain lots of clues, and in turn lead to new information sources and lines of enquiry. 

To connect the dots between sources, you need more than image forensics. You might also need to consult databases and open-source intelligence (OSINT) directories. You can use these to link names to addresses, for instance, or Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to contact information.

Can image forensics tools help me find out when, how, and where images were taken? 

Image forensics tools can help you learn more about how images were created, but this often depends on the metadata available.  

Some sites now remove metadata from images. Meta, for instance, strips out Exif data, which makes it more challenging to determine essential information like the serial number of the camera used.

What metadata can I extract from an image with a forensics tool? 

You can extract different types of metadata from an image to better understand when, where, and how it was created. This includes: 

• Camera and device details, including the model and manufacturer  
• Device serial numbers  
• Timestamps 
• GPS location  
• Editing history (including the tools used and the username of the editor) 
• Prompts and models used for Generative AI 

Can image forensics tools help me recover lost metadata? 

Image forensics tools won’t help you recover lost metadata if it has been deleted. However, not all tools extract all available metadata correctly, so it’s worth comparing the output from several.  

We work hard on our ExifExtractor tool to ensure it extracts as much information as we’re able to find.  

Can image forensics tools detect deepfakes/generative AI? 

As deepfakes become more convincing, image forensics tools are being developed to distinguish between authentic and AI-generated images. Some tools can now conduct pixel-level analysis, which investigates the authenticity of the image at the most granular level. 

However, the risks of deepfake technology can’t be underestimated. As the fight against manipulated imagery continues, tools must be updated to support countermeasures. 

At CameraForensics, we’re heavily involved in our own research and working on tools to assist in this specific problem. Get in touch if you’d like to know more. 

How can I investigate the origins of an image with an image forensics tool? 

You can identify an image’s source information by using reverse image search algorithms. Once you’ve identified where the image has appeared previously, you can better understand the context in which it was originally shared.  

How can I use an image forensics tool to help with takedown requests? 

There are various ways to support takedown requests with image forensics tools. For instance, you could use a duplicate image finder tool to determine whether an image has been self-generated or taken from another source.  

Can I integrate image forensics tools with other systems? 

Many image forensics tools need to integrate with other platforms in order to share essential data, overcome organisational silos, and connect with victims.  

The CameraForensics platform integrates with multiple other tools – including Griffeye, Paliscope, BlueBear, and Semantics 21 – to make investigations more efficient. 

Should I choose an on-premises or cloud-based image forensics tool? 

There are different benefits to both on-premises and cloud-based image forensics tools.  

Cloud-based tools are:  

• Scalable alongside data sets. As the intelligence available to investigators grows, so does the platform.  
• Always using the latest version. This removes barriers to investigations and makes sure that the platform is always running optimally and exploiting the latest capabilities.  

On-premises tools are: 

• Available to air-gapped networks. If you’re working with data that is unable to leave your network, then this is your only choice. 

How can I learn to use image forensics tools effectively? 

Learning to use image forensics tools will make gathering data for investigations much more efficient and effective. There are various ways to do this. 

Firstly, check to see if your chosen tools offer training courses. This will help you get the best from their specific features. The CameraForensics platform, for instance, comes with a range of user training videos. 

Secondly, consider attending events and conferences within your field. These are a great opportunity to share knowledge with other law enforcement professionals, and to gain a deeper understanding of the image forensics techniques they’re using.

Gain confidence in your image forensics with CameraForensics 

As the fight against child sexual abuse material evolves, staying up to date with the techniques and tools available to you as an investigator is crucial. That’s why we’ve put together a beginner’s guide to image forensics, which also delves into: 

• The core challenges faced by forensic experts 
• The future trends shaping image forensics 
• The importance of collaboration 

You can download your free copy of the beginner’s guide to image forensics here.