In-Camera Authenticity Tech Reportedly Coming to Sony Cameras Soon

Sony’s In-Camera Authenticity Technology

Developed as a machine-based digital signature, so to speak, Sony’s authenticity technology is designed to remove the opportunity for any undetected manipulation of your images (or possibly eventually video). And, with Sony’s new tech, this digital signature should be created inside your camera at the very moment a digital image is captured in the hardware chipset.

Here’s Sony President and COO Neal Manowitz breaking down this new tech and why it’s coming out now.

“While the rapid evolution of generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) brings new possibilities for creative expression, it has also led to growing concern about the impact of altered or manipulated imagery in journalism. The dissemination of false information and images has real world social impact that brings harm not only to our photojournalist and news agency partners, but to society as a whole. We care deeply about this challenge and are committed to using our resources to help solve it.” — Neal Manowitz, President and COO of Sony Electronics.

Manowitz goes on to talk about how, through Sony’s work on the steering committee for the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), they’re focused on setting a new current industry standard for the tracking of editing and manipulation of imagery.

A Partnership Between Sony and the Associated Press

From this partnership between Sony and the Associated Press, Sony has been working with the AP to test out this new technology with a recent field test having been completed in October of this year. As part of this month-long test, Sony was able to focus on both the capture authentication as well as the workflow processes.

However, it’s not just Sony and the AP at work here. To truly unlock this authenticity technology workflow Sony has reported that they’ve also partnered with the company Camera Bits to utilize their Photo Mechanic workflow tool as well.

“We appreciate the significant challenge that manipulated imagery poses for our partners, and we are highly motivated to play a role in helping solve it. Photo Mechanic has been used by the photojournalism industry for 25 years and continues to evolve as the industry introduces new technology. We are committed to ensuring Photo Mechanic remains a trusted and authentic workflow solution.” — Dennis Walker, President and Founder of Camera Bits.

And this new combined technology promises to preserve a camera’s digital signature at the very start — and throughout — the entire metadata editing process.

When is the Planned Release?

Now, that’s the big question here. While this technology is exciting — and certainly very encouraging — as a way to combat current and future AI abuse of others' content. It’s also something that will have to be seen to be believed at this point.

However, Sony does report that this new in-camera signature and C2PA authentication is planned to be released here in the spring of 2024. And, as far as cameras set to get this new firmware update, it sounds like Sony’s very latest offerings like the Alpha 9 IIII, Alpha 1 and Alpha 7S III will be the first in line.

We’ll keep you all updated as more information becomes available.