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As the world faces a surge of fake images and videos, created by artificial intelligence (AI) or manipulated by humans, camera makers are stepping up their efforts to ensure the authenticity and integrity of visual content. Nikon, Sony, and Canon are among the leading companies that are developing camera technology that embeds digital signatures in images and videos, allowing them to be verified by a web-based tool called Verify.
What are digital signatures and why are they important?
Digital signatures are a form of encryption that adds a unique code to an image or a video, containing information such as date, time, location, and photographer. This code is tamper-resistant and can be detected by a verification tool, such as Verify, which is a free service launched by an alliance of global news organizations, technology companies, and camera makers.
These are important because they can help distinguish real images and videos from fake ones, which can have serious implications for journalism, politics, business, and society. For example, deepfakes of former U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida went viral this year, raising questions about the credibility and trustworthiness of visual content.
These can also help protect the rights and reputation of photographers and content creators, who may face legal or ethical issues if their images or videos are used without their consent or attribution. Whether they’re posting videos through a video hosting solution, on social media, or sending them through emails, content creators are always open to such risks.
How are camera makers implementing digital signatures?
Nikon, Sony, and Canon are using a global standard for digital signatures, which is compatible with the Verify tool. They are also developing their camera models and technologies that support digital signatures.
Nikon will offer mirrorless cameras with authentication technology for photojournalists and other professionals, starting in 2024. The cameras will have a built-in function that adds these to images automatically.
Sony will release in the spring of 2024 technology to incorporate these into three professional-grade mirrorless SLR cameras via a firmware update. The company is also considering making the technology compatible with videos. Sony’s authentication servers will be able to detect digital signatures and determine whether images or videos are AI-generated. Sony and The Associated Press field-tested this tool in October.
Canon will release a camera with similar features as early as 2024. The company is also developing technology that adds digital signatures to video. Canon formed a project team in 2019 and has partnered with Thomson Reuters and the Starling Lab for Data Integrity, an institute co-founded by Stanford University and the University of Southern California. Canon is also releasing an image management app that can tell whether images are taken by humans.
What are the challenges and opportunities?
Digital signatures are not a silver bullet for solving the problem of fake images and videos. They have some limitations and challenges, such as:
- They can only be applied to images and videos taken by compatible cameras, which may not cover all sources and platforms of visual content.
- They can be removed or altered by malicious actors, who may use sophisticated tools or techniques to bypass the verification process.
- They can be misused or abused by legitimate actors, who may use them to claim ownership or authority over images or videos that they do not own or have permission to use.
- They can be misunderstood or misinterpreted by users, who may not be aware of the meaning or purpose of digital signatures, or who may not trust the verification tool or the camera makers.
However, it also offers some opportunities and benefits, such as:
- They can enhance the quality and credibility of visual content, by providing evidence and context for its origin and authenticity.
- They can foster collaboration and innovation among camera makers, technology companies, news organizations, and content creators, who can work together to develop and improve the digital signature technology and the verification tool.
- They can raise awareness and education among users, who can learn more about the issue of fake images and videos, and how to spot and verify them.
Digital signatures are a promising technology that can help camera makers fight fake images and videos, and contribute to a more trustworthy and transparent visual media landscape.
