Null Space Properties of Neural Networks with Applications to Image
  Steganography
Xiang Li Kevin M. Short
This paper explores the null space properties of neural networks. We extend
the null space definition from linear to nonlinear maps and discuss the
presence of a null space in neural networks. The null space of a given neural
network can tell us the part of the input data that makes no contribution to
the final prediction so that we can use it to trick the neural network. This
reveals an inherent weakness in neural networks that can be exploited. One
application described here leads to a method of image steganography. Through
experiments on image datasets such as MNIST, we show that we can use null space
components to force the neural network to choose a selected hidden image class,
even though the overall image can be made to look like a completely different
image. We conclude by showing comparisons between what a human viewer would
see, and the part of the image that the neural network is actually using to
make predictions and, hence, show that what the neural network ``sees'' is
completely different than what we would expect.