Answer: real videos
How to prove a video is realTrace it to its source and original file; no single test proves it
TimeBinder adds a layer of protection against AI and human fraud and disputes.
The file stays on your device. Your browser makes a digital fingerprint of the file. TimeBinder records the fingerprint and the time, not the file.
Short answer
No single test proves a video is real. Trace it to its first source, look for the original upload, check whether trusted outlets confirm it, and compare details with known facts. If it is yours, keep the original file. A TimeBind dates a file; it does not detect fakes.
Checks for a video you came across
Start with where it came from. Who posted it first, and do they have a history of reliable posts? Use a reverse image search on a few frames to find earlier versions. Many “new” clips are old footage with a fresh caption. Check whether reputable outlets or the people involved confirm it, and whether details such as location, weather, shadows and signage match what is claimed.
Look at the video itself, but with care: odd lip movement, flicker around faces, inconsistent lighting or unnatural audio can point to deepfakes, yet good fakes avoid them and real videos can have glitches. Our guides on verifying a viral video in 5 steps and how to spot a deepfake video go through these checks. If the content could harm someone, wait for confirmation before sharing.
If the video is yours
Keep the original file from the camera or phone, not a re-encoded copy from a platform, and note when and where you recorded it. A TimeBind records a SHA-256 fingerprint of that exact file and a time, anchored to Bitcoin. The fingerprint is made in your browser and the file is not uploaded. It shows the file existed no later than the recorded time and still matches.
It does not show that the scene was real, that the video is unedited before it was dated, or who recorded it. It does not detect fakes.
First Pooled TimeBind free, no card, then from US$5. An ASAP TimeBind is US$15.
Frequently asked questions
Can you prove a video is real?
Not with a single test. You build confidence by tracing the first source, confirming with independent reports, and checking details against known facts.
Can AI-generated video be detected by software?
Tools can give hints but can be wrong in both directions. Do not rely on a detector score alone.
What should I keep if I film something important?
Keep the original, unedited file, avoid re-encoded copies, and note the time, place and device. Date the original file so you can show that version later.
Does a TimeBind show a video is real?
No. It shows an exact file existed no later than a recorded time and still matches. It does not show the scene was real or detect fakes.
Sources
- TimeBinder, Verify a viral video in 5 steps.
- TimeBinder, How to spot a deepfake video.
Related guides and tools
- Verify a viral news clip in 5 stepsA free mini-course: the claim and source, a pause, the outlet and original, clues, and a dated record. No checker can reliably tell a real clip from an AI-generated one.
- Verify a viral video in 5 stepsA short step-by-step check
- How to spot a deepfake videoClues and their limits
- Viral product video checkerQuestions to ask before you share
- Does AI leave a watermark?Marks exist on some tools; absence proves nothing
- Glossary: deepfakeSynthetic or altered video of a person
- All answersShort answers to common file-proof questions
- Does YouTube demonetize AI content?Not automatically, but mass-produced content is ineligible.
Record a fingerprint of the file you rely on
Add a layer of protection against AI and human fraud and disputes: a dated, checkable record of the exact file you hold.
- Open the app and sign in with email or Google.
- Add your files. They stay on your computer.
- Seal them and download your Proof of Time certificates.
First Pooled TimeBind free, no card, then from US$5. See pricing.