Canon and Reuters are testing the technology to ensure the images are authentic

Is this real or artificial intelligence? We have to ask ourselves this question more and more as generative image models advance. Reuters and Canon want to help.

The need for trustworthy content is growing

Global news agency Reuters, in collaboration with Canon and the Starling Laboratory at Harvard University and the University of Southern California, has a pilot project to verify the authenticity of the images. complete. The goal is to strengthen trust in image content in times of political disinformation and artificial intelligence-driven fakery.

As fake content becomes more widespread, there is a great need to fact-check news media. Especially against the backdrop of popular skepticism towards real and fake news.

Image history tracking technology

The pilot project tested Canon’s technology that traces the path of an image from capture to publication. This is done by including metadata. In addition, the authentication framework from Starling Lab was used.

A photojournalist tests a prototype camera

Reuters photographer Violeta Santos Mora has a prototype of a Canon camera. Captured images are digitally tagged with a unique identifier (hash value), which also includes time, date, and location. In addition, the images are cryptographically signed to prove their authenticity and are recorded on the public blockchain.

After each edit by Reuters’ photo editors, this was updated there. This process continued until the images were combined with their metadata, editing history and blockchain registration according to the new C2PA standard. To verify the authenticity of images, news agency clients can compare the unique identifier on the public blockchain.

Canon is part of the Content Authentication Initiative

Canon joined the Content Authentication Initiative (CAI) in January. Since its launch in 2022 by Leica, Nikon, Adobe and The New York Times, among others, a number of media and technology companies have already joined.

Many photojournalists rely on Canon technologies. We understand the role that images play in society and the importance of maintaining the authenticity of images. Through the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), Canon aims to take meaningful action to protect images that serve the global news community.

Richard Shepherd, Product Marketing Manager, Canon Europe

via: Beta pixel | Post image: Kayla Velasquez