
Further, a reverse image search can help an investigator track down the original uploader of a particular piece of media. Especially during emerging crises, old pictures are often posted online - often purporting to portray something other than they actually do portray - and go viral due to uncritical re-sharing through social networks (this happens regularly both during complex emergencies and natural disasters). This is crucial for determining if an old image is being “recycled” as new. A reverse image search allows an investigator to search image databases on the internet for previous versions of the same picture. One of the introductory tools that we share in our trainings is a “reverse image search.” It is the first step we take to verify a piece of visual content in many of our investigations. Quick tip: There are also websites for reverse image searching that you can use if you're looking for other non-Google methods.Tools needed: InVid-WeVerify plugin installed in Chrome or Firefox, Screenshot tool for video searches It uses popular search engines, such as Google, Bing, Yandex, and Tiny, and it's available completely free for Android devices only. Search By Image is a free reverse image search app that helps you find images or photos that are similar. The app is available on both Google Play and App Store, and it's completely free. However, keep in mind that you might not always get a result. All you have to do is take a picture of it, and the app will use its advanced image recognition software to identify it for you. If you've ever seen an object in the real world and wondered what it is, CamFind can help. This will give you access to advanced search engines like Yandex.

However, you can upgrade to the pro version through in-app purchases for $3.99.

It's available for both Android and iOS devices for free. The app doesn't have its own search engine, so it uses others (Google is the default) to do the reverse image search instead. If you're looking for something beyond the Google app and Google Chrome for your reverse image search needs, there are a couple of other apps you try.Īs long as you have the image file or its URL, you can use Reversee to do a reverse image search.
