This theory focuses on the strategic alteration of authentic evidence to change its meaning. Unlike fabrication, it starts with something real—a data set, a photo, a quote—and then deliberately distorts it through selective editing, misleading context, or improper analysis. The goal is to make the genuine evidence tell a lie, preserving a veneer of authenticity while perverting its truth.
Manipulated Evidence Theory Example: A politician is recorded saying, "We need to invest in this community." The clip is manipulated by an opponent's ad team to loop and truncate it as: "We need to invest... in this." implying selfish intent. The audio is real, but its meaning has been surgically reversed. This is evidence manipulation as a dark art of context-shifting.
by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 6, 2026
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