Authentication of Digital Video Images

Law enforcement’s extensive use of digital video in field operations requires proof for later legal use that no one has altered the recording. The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory developed a digital video authentication system consisting of a small electronic device connected to a laptop computer. By using a public key together with a private key kept by the investigators, the system encrypts data about the recording. Later, during playback the system can validate the recording as being an unaltered original. The process can verify each frame of the video recording and is sensitive to one pixel. The system will work with any commonly available commercial digital video camera and recording equipment. The system can also verify the integrity of any electronic data file. Requests for additional information should be sent to isfsubgroup@tswg.gov.