Using Google Images for image similarity search in the verification plug-in
Our verification plug-in, or Fake News Debunker, as it is sometimes called, is undergoing constant changes and improvements. The same applies to third party services that have been integrated into the browser plug-in: they are also undergoing frequent changes. Sometimes, they even are taken offline completely by third party providers.
Some of these aforementioned external services include so-called reverse image search engines, ranging from TinEye to Yandex to Google Images (presently six in total).
In order to incorporate some code changes in the latter (Google Images), and to make sure you can use this third party image and video similarity service more or less as before and in the way you have become used to, we recently published a new version of the plug-in. You can now lay your hands on version 0.75.9 and get it, as usual, in the Chrome store, completely free of charge as usual.
In order to find out what has changed and how to now use the different options triggering a Google image search, project partner AFP / Denis Teyssou produced a short explainer video that you can access below.
To note when you use Google Images in this new version: Things are working a bit slower than before. The reason being: we need to encode the image first before it is sent to Google images. That is why we ask you to be patient and wait for the automatic opening of the results tab. If, in turn, you click too rapidly or on several frames, you may get a Google anti-robot captcha on your screen and have to start all over again.
As always: we very much appreciate your feedback on any experiences gained with the plug-in, as well as telling us if you spot any bugs or errors. To do so, simply use the Feedback feature in the plug-in.
Author: Jochen Spangenberg (DW), based largely on information supplied by Denis Teyssou (AFP)
Editor: Anna Schild (DW)
