Answer: provenance
What is provenanceThe recorded history of where something came from and who has handled 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
Provenance is the documented history of an item: where it came from, who made or owned it and what has changed since. In art it supports authenticity. In digital media it can mean records of how a file was made and edited, such as Content Credentials, though such records can be missing or removed.
Provenance in art and in digital files
In art and antiques, provenance is the chain of ownership and records that supports a work’s authenticity. For digital media and AI, it refers to information about how a file was created, by whom or what tool, and how it has been edited.
The C2PA standard behind Content Credentials is one approach; see c2pa.org and what are Content Credentials. These records only help when they are attached, preserved and trusted, and many platforms strip metadata.
Where a timestamp fits
A timestamp is one piece of provenance: it fixes when an exact file existed. A TimeBind records a SHA-256 fingerprint of the exact file and a time, anchored to Bitcoin. The fingerprint is made in your browser and the file is not uploaded. It complements, but does not replace, creation records, source files and signed credentials. See Content Credentials vs timestamp.
A timestamp does not show who made a file or that its content is genuine.
First Pooled TimeBind free, no card, then from US$5. An ASAP TimeBind is US$15.
Frequently asked questions
Is provenance the same as authenticity?
No. Provenance is the record of history. Authenticity is a judgement that something is genuine, which provenance can support.
What is AI provenance?
Information about how AI-generated or AI-edited content was made, such as the tool used, edits applied and who published it. It may be missing or removed.
Can provenance data be faked or removed?
Unsigned metadata can be edited or stripped. Signed credentials are harder to alter silently but can still be removed from a file.
Does a timestamp prove provenance?
It provides one dated fact about an exact file. Full provenance needs more records about creation and handling.
Sources
Related guides and tools
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