This is what happens when you “steal” images from the internet without checking.
In 2023, Syria introduced a new biometric passport that included an image of the historic Al-Hamidiyah Souq in Damascus on one of its pages. Except the photograph appears to have been taken from the internet and used without the photographer’s permission.
We know this because the original photo happened to have the photographer’s watermark. It’s not instantly noticeable, as it is positioned in perspective within the photo, but it’s visible enough: “Waseem Asmar Photography.” 🤷♂️
And that watermark made it all the way into the passport!
On the other hand, if something like that were to ever happen to me, I’d be stoked! I need to start adding watermarks now and just wait.
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