Guides · Updated 2026-10-27

Checking images and videos from conflict zones

Images and videos are often the first thing people see about a new attack or battle, and they are also the easiest material to misuse. Footage from earlier years, from other countries, from military exercises and even from video games is regularly shared as breaking news. These steps, used by newsrooms and open-source researchers, help you decide how much to trust what you see.

1. Find the earliest version

Reposted clips lose their context. Search for the earliest upload you can find: who posted it first, when, and with what description? A reverse image search on a key frame (available in common search engines) often shows whether the same picture appeared months or years earlier.

2. Check the place

Look for details that can be matched to a map: road layouts, distinctive buildings, mountains, signs, shop names, or the shape of a coastline. Comparing these with satellite or street-level imagery can confirm or rule out a claimed location. Researchers call this geolocation.

3. Check the time

Weather, shadows, the season of the vegetation and the light can show whether footage matches the claimed date. Long shadows at midday or snow in a summer clip are warning signs. Comparing with weather records for that day and place can help.

4. Check the sound and language

Spoken language, accents, and the sound of sirens or announcements can support or contradict where a video is said to be from. Be careful: audio can be added or replaced afterwards.

5. Look for signs of editing or generation

Cuts that hide the key moment, mismatched lighting, warped details around hands, text and edges, and repeated patterns can indicate editing or synthetic generation. AI-generated images and videos are increasingly realistic, so absence of obvious flaws is not proof of authenticity.

6. Compare with independent reporting

The strongest check is whether reliable outlets with people on the ground report the same event. If a dramatic video exists but no independent outlet describes the event, treat it with caution. This is the same principle we use on our map, where an event is drawn only when two independent outlets report it.

7. Think before you share

Sharing graphic material can cause distress to the people shown and their families, and can spread misinformation even when shared to debunk it. If you share, add context, avoid graphic frames, and link to a verified report rather than an anonymous repost.

Useful habits

Save what you check. Note the link, the time you found it and what you compared it with. Posts are often deleted, and a record helps if questions come up later.
Look at the account, not just the post. A newly created account, a name that changed recently or a history of sharing unrelated viral content are reasons for caution.
Check the file details when you can. Original photo files sometimes carry the camera model and capture time, but most platforms strip this information, and it can also be edited, so treat it as a hint rather than proof.
Say what you do not know. If you cannot confirm where or when something was filmed, say so when you pass it on. “Unverified” is an honest and useful label.