Image fakery

News that part of the Olympics opening ceremony fireworks display seen by billions on TV was faked with computer trickery poses some interesting questions.

After all what can we trust with computer imagery so convincing? There has already been controversy over images being photoshopped and then published without the fakery being admitted to.

Why, just this week we have the row over singer Beyonce being 'whitened up' for publicity pictures.

Not to mention the recent Iranian missile tests, which were altered by the regime there to hid a non-firing rocket.

In the age of instant media, getting your message out first in the media is often more important than the actual truth.

After all, when the image is revealed as a fake by experts a month down the line many who believed the original will miss it, and carry on holding a misconception.

Newspapers have fallen victim to fakes over the years, but these days there is a real capacity for malicious misinformation - and an even greater emphasis should be on checking things before publication.