They’re certainly not the first group to get caught “faking” something with a little bit of photo editing, but they’re so prominent that it is probably even more embarrassing in some ways.
The United States Office of the Director of National Intelligence, one of the government’s many intelligence agencies, recently submitted a photo that edited in a more diverse group of employees than existed in the actual photograph. We can only assume that this was to make the office seem more inclusive and diverse than it really was.
As for the additions to the photo? Not only are they quite obvious, but they are also clumsily implemented. The agency sought to highlight its increasingly diverse workforce, but it has, instead, come off somewhat strange in terms of the world of broader media.
What candidates did they feel like their group photo lacked? A blind candidate and a person in a wheelchair, both of which were added via editing. You can view the photo for yourself at this link.
But it gets even better. The group photo the agency highlighted is itself a stock photo titled “Portrait Of Multi-Cultural Office Staff Standing In Lobby.” We understand that actual staff members of an intelligence agency might not feature on the cover of a report, but this is, again, somewhat embarrassingly executed.
PetaPixel quotes Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines who said of the report, “The Intelligence Community should reflect the diverse makeup of America and demonstrate that we are fostering an environment where every professional can succeed. Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion is fundamental to our democratic values and critical to meeting the IC’s mission. This takes work every single day. We are committed to doing more to address this critical issue and accelerate our progress.”
What do you think of the photo editing controversy at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence? Let us know your thoughts on that subject in the comments below.
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