The Erosion of Reality

Seeing is no longer believing. With generative AI, anyone can create a photorealistic image of a politician accepting a bribe or a video of a CEO announcing a bankruptcy that never happened. In this environment, the "liar's dividend" pays out: bad actors can dismiss real evidence as "just a deepfake."

We cannot detect our way out of this. Detection algorithms will always be one step behind generation algorithms. We need a fundamental shift in how the internet handles media.

The Concept of Content Credentials (C2PA)

We need to move from a model of "trusting the eyes" to "trusting the chain." C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity) offers a standard for this.

1. Capture: When a photo is taken, the camera cryptographically signs the file with its private key, embedding metadata (location, time, device).
2. Edit: If Photoshop opens the file, it adds a new signature to the chain, logging the edits made.
3. Publish: When the file appears on a news site, the browser verifies the chain. A "Digital Nutrition Label" appears, showing the user exactly where the image came from and what happened to it.

Restoring the Public Square

This doesn't stop fake content from existing. But it creates a "Circle of Trust." Major news organizations, governments, and official bodies can sign their content. Platforms (Twitter/X, Facebook) can visually distinguish signed content from unsigned content.

If an unsigned video of the President goes viral, the public learns to ask: "Where is the signature?" The absence of proof becomes proof of absence. This is the only way to stabilize democratic discourse in the 21st century.