Military Defense Investigation Knowledge Base
Military Defense Investigation Authority Publication
Authority Publication No. DI-097
Detecting AI-Generated, Deepfake, or Digitally Manipulated Evidence in a Military Case
Independent Military Defense Investigations
Supporting Attorneys, Service Members, and Families
Publication Date: August 31, 2026
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Executive Summary
A suspicious recording should not be declared authentic or fake based on appearance alone. Artificial intelligence, conventional editing, compression, copying, enhancement, and poor recording conditions can all create artifacts that require disciplined examination.
Authority Publication DI-097 provides a defense-oriented framework for investigating audio, photographs, and video alleged to be AI-generated, deepfake, or digitally manipulated. The inquiry begins with provenance: where the file came from, how it was created, who handled it, and what happened before it entered the case file.
The publication explains why investigators should seek the earliest available file, original device or account, longer recording, metadata, hashes, encoding history, surrounding communications, and independent corroboration before asking an expert to reach a carefully limited conclusion.
A practical framework for testing provenance, metadata, source files, contextual evidence, and expert limitations when digital media may have been generated or altered.
What readers will learn
- Trace the provenance and acquisition path of disputed media.
- Preserve original files, metadata, hashes, and encoding information.
- Distinguish manipulation indicators from compression or processing artifacts.
- Seek surrounding communications and independent corroboration.
- Use qualified experts to answer defined questions and report uncertainty.
Who Should Read This Publication?
Military Defense Counsel
Use this publication to define the authentication or manipulation issue, preserve the necessary source material, and determine when specialized forensic assistance is required.
Defense Investigators
Learn how to document provenance, locate earlier or longer versions, identify handling and platform-processing history, and build contextual corroboration around disputed media.
Service Members
Understand why a clip, screenshot, or online detector result may not establish authenticity or falsity and why original devices, accounts, and surrounding communications should be preserved.
Experts
Receive a better-defined assignment supported by traceable source files, acquisition history, metadata, comparison material, and a clear statement of the question counsel needs answered.
Families
Learn why circulating, editing, enhancing, or repeatedly downloading disputed media can complicate later analysis and why the original source should be preserved.
Companion Video
This companion video expands on the investigative concepts presented in this Authority Publication through additional explanation, practical examples, and professional investigative insight.
About Michael West
The investigative guidance presented throughout these Authority Publications is based upon decades of professional experience conducting military, federal, criminal, civil, and private investigations. The principles discussed in these publications are drawn from real investigative work involving complex cases, witness development, evidence analysis, and factual case preparation.
Michael West has served as a Special Agent with the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) and the Department of Defense Inspector General, conducted federal background investigations, and spent decades working as a licensed private investigator supporting attorneys, businesses, service members, and private clients. Throughout his career, his work has focused on identifying facts, locating witnesses, analyzing evidence, and strengthening the factual foundation of legal cases through independent investigation.
The Military Defense Investigation Knowledge Base was created to share that investigative experience in a practical, understandable format. Its purpose is to help attorneys, service members, and families better understand the investigative process, ask more informed questions, and recognize opportunities where independent investigation may strengthen the defense.
Important Information
This Authority Publication is provided for educational and informational purposes and is intended to help readers better understand military defense investigations and the investigative process. It is based upon professional investigative experience and is designed to provide practical investigative insight rather than legal advice.
Every military case is unique. The investigative strategies, factual issues, and legal considerations applicable to one case may not apply to another. Readers should consult with a qualified attorney regarding legal rights, legal strategy, and decisions involving their individual circumstances.
Nothing contained in this publication should be interpreted as creating an attorney-client relationship or an investigator-client relationship. References to investigative techniques, procedures, or case examples are provided solely to illustrate investigative principles and should not be considered legal guidance.
Effective military defense is strengthened by informed legal representation supported by thorough factual investigation. The purpose of these Authority Publications is to help readers better understand that investigative process so they can communicate more effectively with qualified legal counsel and make informed decisions throughout the military justice process.