Introduction to Content Authenticity
Adobe has launched a new tool that makes it easier for creatives to be reliably credited for their work, even if somebody takes a screenshot of it and reposts it across the web. The Content Authenticity web app, which is launching in public beta, allows invisible, tamper-resistant metadata to be embedded into images and photographs to help identify who owns them.
How it Works
The new web app builds on Adobe’s Content Credentials attribution system, which was initially announced in October. Artists and creators can attach information directly into their work, including links to their social media accounts, websites, and other attributes that can be used to identify them online. The app can also track the editing history of images and helps creatives to prevent AI from training on them.
Features and Availability
The Content Authenticity web app is currently free while in beta, and all you need is an Adobe account to use it. You don’t need to have an active Creative Cloud subscription, and the images you want to apply Content Credentials to don’t need to have been edited or created using one of Adobe’s other apps. The app supports JPEG and PNG files for now, but Adobe says that support for larger files and additional media, including video and audio, is coming soon.
Preventing AI Training
Creators can use the app to apply tags to their work that signal to AI developers that they don’t have permission to use it for AI training. This is a more efficient way to opt out than doing it with each AI provider directly, which usually requires protections to be applied to each image individually. However, there’s no guarantee that these tags will be acknowledged or honored by every AI company.
Industry Partnerships
Adobe is working with policymakers and industry partners to establish effective, creator-friendly opt-out mechanisms powered by Content Credentials. The company is also working to ensure that third-party AI protections don’t interfere with Content Credentials, allowing creatives to apply them to their work harmoniously.
Benefits for Everyone
The Content Authenticity app isn’t just for creative professionals; it allows anyone to see if images they find online have Content Credentials applied. The web app’s inspect tool will recover and display Content Credentials even if image hosting platforms have wiped it, alongside editing history where available. This can help to prevent people from being misled by convincing online deepfakes.
Conclusion
The Content Authenticity web app is a powerful tool for creatives to protect their work and prevent AI from training on it. With its user-friendly interface and robust features, it’s an essential tool for anyone who wants to maintain control over their digital content. As the app continues to evolve and improve, it’s likely to become an industry standard for content authentication and protection.
