Prediction model for digital image tampering using customised deep neural network techniques

Image tampering detection is a critical area of research, given the widespread use of manipulated images for deceptive purposes. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have shown significant potential in automating the identification of tampered images. This paper presents customized deep learning model to detect tampering class with comparative analysis of CNN architectures—ResNet50V2, InceptionNetV3, MobileNetV2, and the proposed CNN, for image tampering detection. The proposed approach encompasses a dataset comprising four distinct classes: copy-move, inpaint, splicing, and normal images. This study sheds light on the comparative strengths and weaknesses of these CNN architectures. The dataset encompasses the key tampered classes, offering a holistic assessment of each model's ability to identify various tampering techniques. The custom CNN architecture is specifically tailored for this task, aiming to evaluate its efficiency compared to the established CNNs. Metrics for training and evaluation are standardized to generate equitable comparisons, encompassing performance indicators such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score.This research contributes the knowledge in the field of image tampering detection, offering a comprehensive evaluation of multiple CNN architectures. Additionally, the effectiveness of separable convolutional layers is explored in deep neural networks, showcasing their potential to enhance scalability and effectiveness across various tasks in machine learning and computer vision. The proposed model, designed with separable convolution layers, exhibits superior validation accuracy and training accuracy compared to the other models under evaluation. Notably, The proposed customized model achieved an impressive F1 score of 96%, highlighting its proficiency in accurately detecting tampered regions within images while minimizing false positives.