Media Deduplication & Duplicate Detection

📋 Summary

Introduce automatic and assisted duplicate detection for media to reduce redundant uploads and improve database cleanliness.

❗ Problem

Duplicate media is a recurring issue:

• Identical or near identical images are uploaded multiple times

• Duplicate entries clutter media categories

• Moderators must manually identify and resolve duplicates

• Users may download redundant or unnecessary assets

This leads to inefficiency and reduced data quality.

💡 Proposal

Implement duplicate detection systems:

• Detect duplicates during upload using:

  • File hashing

  • Image similarity checks

• Prompt users when a potential duplicate is found

• Allow moderators to:

  • Flag and merge duplicates

  • Easily remove redundant entries

• Optionally suggest replacing lower quality images with higher quality versions

🧩 Use Cases

• A user is warned before uploading an identical image

• A higher quality version replaces an existing lower quality image

• Moderators quickly resolve duplicate submissions

• Media categories remain clean and organized

📦 Benefits

• Reduces clutter and redundancy

• Saves moderation time

• Improves overall media quality

• Creates a cleaner and more efficient database

⚠️ Considerations

• Needs tolerance for small differences between images

• Should avoid blocking legitimate variations

• UI should clearly explain duplicate warnings

✅ Outcome

Duplicate detection improves data quality and efficiency, reducing clutter while making moderation and uploads more streamlined.