Royal Photo Manipulation Controversy Highlights Risks of 'Perfecting' Images
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A photo of the British royal family released by Kensington Palace sparked controversy due to oddly distorted features like Kate's missing wedding ring and Prince Louis's warped fingers.
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The photo may have been manipulated with common editing tools like Photoshop, which can now utilize AI to alter images in subtle ways.
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Such editing tools allow people to "perfect" memories and make incremental changes to reality, tempting many to alter photos.
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However, manipulated images, whether drastically faked or just "smoothed", invite confusion and distrust, fuel conspiracy theories, and make people question the authenticity of all photos.
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There is pressure on prominent people like Princess Kate to present perfect images of themselves, but manipulating photos erodes public trust. The only solution is for everyone, especially public figures, to strive for complete authenticity.