Content Credentials

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Content Credentials (also known as C2PA signatures) are a digital media metadata specification. They aim to provide provenance information about a piece of media (such as an image or a video) and help prove its authenticity. They are described as the equivalent of nutrition labels for digital media. [1] One of the stated goal of this specification is to fight online disinformation.

Contents

The specification is written and maintained by the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), a group of many media and tech organizations including Adobe, Amazon, the BBC, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI and Sony. Another organization, the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), is responsible for promoting the standard and accelerate its adoption. [1]

The standard relies on cryptographic digital signatures. [1]

Adoption

There are two main stakeholders who can implement Content Credentials: Producers (softwares and hardwares that produce or modify digital media) and publishers (softwares that show digital media to users).

Producers

Adobe

Adobe is one of the first company to implement the specification, announcing support in Photoshop in 2021. [2] Content Credentials can be enabled and the complete history of edits is kept.

Google

Google has announced in 2025 support for Content Credentials on their Pixel 10 phones. The Content Credentials are embedded on each picture taken from the Pixel Camera, and modifications done using Google Photos. Information include picture timestamp and a non-identifiable signature that proves it was taken from a Pixel 10. As for Google Photos, a list of AI and non-AI edits are kept. [3]

Nikon

Nikon announced in 2024 that their Z6 III camera would support embedding Content Credentials in its photos. [4] However, in 2025, a vulnerability was discovered in the software of the camera that allowed to combine unauthentic images with authentic photos and still have the resulting image with a valid digital signature. Nikon revoked the certificates. [5]

Media organizations

CBC/Radio-Canada and the BBC both have started attaching Content Credentials to media they produce or verify. [6] [7]

OpenAI

OpenAI embeds Content Credentials on the images and videos it generates that includes that the media was created by AI using their platforms. [8] [9]

Sony

In June 2025, Sony announced the release of its Camera Verify system for press photographers and news editors using C2PA digital signatures. [10] Initially, the system will be limited to still images, high‑end cameras, and selected news agencies. Registration with Sony Creators' Cloud is also required. [11]

Publishers

LinkedIn

In 2024, LinkedIn started showing a "CR" icon on images that contain Content Credentials of AI-generated images. In 2025, they announced a partnership with Adobe to allow photographers to prove ownership of images using Content Credentials. [12]

TikTok

TikTok announced in 2024 that an "AI-generated" label would be applied to videos containing Content Credentials if they were AI-generated [13] . In 2025, they announced that users could control the amount of AI-generated content they see, using self-reported labels, Content Credentials and an invisible, proprietary AI watermark embedded in videos by their AI editor tool. [14]

Youtube

In 2024, Youtube started showing to users a label that reads "captured with a camera" on videos that show authentic, unedited videos taken by Content Credentials-compatible cameras. [15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Weatherbed, Jess (2024-08-21). "This system can sort real pictures from AI fakes — why aren't platforms using it?". The Verge. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  2. ↑ Allen, Will. "Adobe unleashes Content Attribution Features in Photoshop and Beyond at MAX 2021|Adobe". blog.adobe.com. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  3. ↑ "Edit images in Google Photos by simply asking". Google. 2025-08-20. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  4. ↑ Schneider, Jaron (2024-10-14). "Nikon Will Add C2PA Content Credentials to the Z6 III by Next Year". PetaPixel. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  5. ↑ Gray, Jeremy (2025-09-05). "Nikon Suspends C2PA Functionality on the Z6 III Due to Authentication Issue". PetaPixel. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  6. ↑ "Media Embrace Content Credentials to Fight Deepfakes". Fstoppers. 2025-02-14. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  7. ↑ "CBC/Radio-Canada documents video authenticity with Content Credentials on AWS | AWS for M&E Blog". aws.amazon.com. 2025-09-26. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  8. ↑ Weatherbed, Jess (2025-10-27). "Sora is showing us how broken deepfake detection is". The Verge. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  9. ↑ "C2PA in ChatGPT Images". OpenAI Help Center. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  10. ↑ "Sony launches "Camera Verify" feature for its Camera Authenticity Solution for News Organisations". Sony Europe. 2025-06-26. Archived from the original on 2025-09-20. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  11. ↑ online, heise (2025-06-26). "Sony tests beta version for image authentication". c't Fotografie. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  12. ↑ published, Tom May (2025-10-31). "New LinkedIn feature helps you prove authorship of your photographs". Digital Camera World. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  13. ↑ Shakir, Umar (2024-05-09). "TikTok is adding an "AI-generated" label to watermarked third-party content". The Verge. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
  14. ↑ Qureshi, Usman (2025-11-19). "https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/2025/11/19/tiktok-controls-for-ai-generated-content/". www.iphoneincanada.ca. Retrieved 2025-12-23.{{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  15. ↑ Shakir, Umar (2024-10-15). "YouTube takes a baby step toward labeling authentic video". The Verge. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
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