Inside AFP

Why AFP pulled a photo of Catherine, Princess of Wales

Photo editors from AFP's London bureau were alerted on Sunday to alterations on an image released by Kensington Palace of the Princess of Wales and her children. 

 

Following discussions, AFP and a group of international news agencies deemed these modifications to be in violation of the ethical standards of the profession. As a result, they collectively agreed to remove the photo from their distribution platforms. 

From the outset, AFP had duly noted that it was distributing a photo provided by a third-party institution. AFP felt compelled to remove the photo to preserve the trust of its subscribers and maintain transparency to the public, especially in a society where manipulated images are prevalent.