While there's been a lot of technological progress, I think that story confuses different meanings of "could" and "information".

From a photo of someone's face and shoulders, a child can add "information" by extending it to a stick-figure body with crayons. However it's not information from the original event that was recorded.

Then there's the difference between strictly capable versus permissible or wise. A researcher "can't" make up data, a journalist "can't" invent quotes, a US President "can't" declare himself dictator, etc.