Maine Westbrook Police Apologize for AI-Altered Drug Evidence Photo

The Westbrook Police Department in Maine apologized after inadvertently posting an AI-altered photo of drug evidence on social media. An officer used the AI tool ChatGPT to digitally insert the department's patch into the evidence photo, but the app also unexpectedly altered other elements, including scrambling lettering and changing the contents of the bags. Initially, the department denied using AI and claimed the packaging's gibberish text was legitimate, but they later acknowledged the use of AI and deleted the original post. The altered image drew widespread criticism online, with many expressing concern about the potential erosion of trust in police evidence due to AI manipulation. Westbrook Police stated it was never their intent to alter the evidence's image and emphasized their commitment to transparency while acknowledging the need to be more cautious in the future. This incident highlights growing challenges in verifying the authenticity of digital evidence amid increasing AI use.