[pollyannaish]

Actually, no.

Some photographs have always lied. It is just easier now. Remember fairy photography from the early days?

In any case, all photography excludes information. That is not a lie, but it does create a certain kind of distortion.

[R. Scott]

That is not a lie, but it does create a certain kind of distortion.

Not exactly a lie, but an untruth?
Double exposure, real “cut and paste” (using an X-ato blade and paste) and other means have been used since photography was invented – but as you posted, “It is just easier now.” It was so difficult to do that it needed a real expert to present a useable picture, and “photographs don’t lie” was an accepted phrase. I haven’t heard it used since PhotoShop.