# Combating Fake News with Cryptography in Quantum Era with Post-Quantum Verifiable Image Proofs
## 1 Introduction  
In today's digital age, social networks have become both a valuable resource and a significant challenge during times of conflict. They provide a platform for real-time information and global connectivity, but they also facilitate the rapid spread of misinformation. In particular, fake or misrepresented images influence public perception, escalate tensions, and erode trust in media. A notable example of this issue arose during the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Palestine conflict, where verifying the authenticity of visual content on social media became increasingly difficult. Social media platforms, due to their vast reach and rapid dissemination of content, have amplified both accurate and misleading narratives, sometimes with serious consequences. Fake images have been used to manipulate public opinion and deepen divisions between opposing sides. On the second day of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, videos and images began circulating widely on social media, claiming that a Ukrainian pilot known as the \"[PERSON]\" had shot down six Russian fighter jets within the first 30 h of the war. Despite the viral spread of these claims, no credible evidence confirmed the pilot's existence [1]. A widely shared video of the alleged \"Ghost of Kyiv\" was posted on Facebook and the official Twitter account of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. However, it was later revealed that the footage originated from the video game Digital Combat Simulator World. Additionally, an altered photo of the pilot was shared by former Ukrainian president [PERSON]. On 30 April 2022, the Ukrainian Air Force urged the public to practice \"information hygiene\" and verify sources before sharing content. The Ukrainian Air Force clarified that the \"Ghost of Kyiv\" was symbolic. Nevertheless, some media outlets, including The Times, continuedto report on the story, with some even claiming the pilot had died without concrete evidence to support these assertions. Other fabricated news reports also spread widely. Manipulated CNN headlines falsely claimed that actor [PERSON] had been seen with the Russian military. Misleading social media posts featured a fake CNN news banner stating that [PERSON] had issued a warning to India. Other posts falsely claimed that a CNN journalist had been killed in Ukraine. In another case, a digitally altered image suggested that [PERSON], who was not in Ukraine at the time, was involved in the conflict, further contributing to the spread of misinformation [2]. In November 2023, concerns arose over the use of AI-generated images in reports about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Some highly realistic, AI-generated photos depicting scenes of destruction were sold through Adobe's stock image library. Certain media outlets and social media users unknowingly or without clear disclosure used these images in their coverage, presenting them as real. Adobe had previously allowed users to upload and sell AI-generated content, with creators receiving a percentage of revenue from licensed images. While Adobe labeled such images as \"generated by AI\" within its stock library, this label was not always retained when the images were downloaded and redistributed. One widely circulated AI-generated image titled \"Conflict between Israel and Palestine generative AI\" was published in several online articles, showing black smoke billowing from buildings. Though initially labeled as AI-generated, the image was later used by some media outlets without this disclosure, leading to confusion. In response, Adobe emphasized its commitment to fighting misinformation through its Content Authenticity Initiative. This initiative aims to improve transparency in digital content by providing metadata and digital credentials to help users verify image authenticity [3]. Despite such efforts, significant challenges remain in ensuring AI-generated content is correctly identified and used responsibly in news reporting.