MediaImpossible

MediaImpossible is a multidisciplinary experimental platform focused on analyzing and countering media manipulation in the digital information ecosystem. It functions as a research collective and public-facing resource that documents techniques used to fabricate, alter, or misrepresent media, and provides tools to assess the credibility of content across formats including video, audio, and text.

Originating in 2016, mediaImpossible was founded by journalists, researchers, and educators with the aim of improving media literacy, transparency in media production, and resilience against misinformation. The initiative emphasizes open science, sharing methodologies, datasets, and case studies to support researchers, educators, and practitioners working to mitigate misinformation and manipulation.

Activities and outputs include controlled experiments with synthetic media, a catalog of notable misinformation campaigns, and the hosting of workshops and seminars. The platform maintains an online verification workflow and publishes educational modules designed for classrooms and newsroom training. It also offers an application programming interface and open datasets to support content authentication, digital forensics, and fact-checking workflows. Partnerships with universities, media outlets, and fact-checking organizations help broaden reach and impact.

Impact and reception have grown in academic and educational circles, with citations in research on misinformation, media literacy curricula, and digital forensics. Some critics caution that the public discussion of manipulation techniques can inadvertently aid bad actors if not carefully contextualized and accompanied by strong safeguards and ethical guidelines.

Related topics include misinformation, deepfake technology, media literacy, fact-checking, and digital forensics.