Image Statistics in Digital Forensics

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, Cambridge MA

Investigators

Abstract

In recent years it has become easy for anyone to digitally manipulate images using software such as Adobe Photoshop. This puts powerful creative tools in the hands of photographers. Unfortunately, it also makes it easy to tamper with images with ill intent. The digital forger can provide false information to the news media and can alter evidence in a legal proceeding. In this project, we will collaborate with researchers at Adobe to develop methods for detecting forgeries. When we examine the pixel patterns within genuine images, we find certain statistical regularities due to the way the images are formed. The forger disturbs these regularities, giving us the opportunity to detect the subtle statistical traces left behind. We will investigate image statistics related to lighting, color, contrast, and perspective.