Last year, photos of the 2012 Istanbul Eurasia Marathon were shared all over the the internet amidst claims that they represented mass anti-government protests.
These claims were easily debunked, but others based on traffic accidents and earlier incidents were more difficult to verify and separate from genuine news.
In every conflict there is truth, truth mixed with falsehood, and straight falsehood.
In 2012, early in the Syria conflict, the BBC used a 2003 photo from Iraq to illustrate the Houla massacre. If their photo researchers can get it so wrong, what about us?
Please think twice about sharing photos of conflict if you have no idea where they come from.
The victims of the bombardment of Gaza will not be helped by the distribution of photos from 2009 and 2012, and from Syria, Iraq and other conflicts.
The victims of horrific violence need justice and aid, not advocacy based on partial misinformation. Be witnesses to truth.
Last modified: 24 July 2014
