Immutable Digital Testimony Through Blockchain Hash Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies struggle to provide authentic and unalterable evidence of a person's location or conduct, as current methods modify the content and cannot confidently authenticate its integrity, and blockchain-based solutions do not offer immutable digital evidence.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using a device with cameras, hashing schemes, and blockchain technology to capture, hash, and store immutable digital testimony, ensuring the integrity and authenticity of the evidence by creating a verifiable and unchangeable record through a distributed ledger.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If typical technologies modify the content and embed invisible data (watermarks, noise) into digital files to detect alterations, then the ability to detect tampering is improved, but the original evidence is altered and cannot be used as authentic proof
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the evidence authentication process into two independent parts: (1) the original unaltered digital content is captured and stored, and (2) a separate cryptographic hash of that content is generated and recorded on the blockchain. This segmentation allows tampering detection through hash verification without modifying the original evidence file.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cryptographic hashing as an intermediary mechanism between the digital content and the blockchain. Instead of embedding data directly into the content, the hash function creates a unique digital fingerprint that serves as the intermediary link, enabling verification without altering the original evidence.
2Reliability
If blockchain technology is used to store immutable records of digital evidence, then the integrity and immutability of evidence is improved, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential verification data (cryptographic hashes and metadata) from the complete digital evidence and stores these extracted elements on the blockchain. The full original content remains stored separately in traditional digital storage, reducing the complexity burden on the blockchain system while maintaining immutability for verification purposes.
3Ease of manufacture
If artificial intelligence and advanced technology enable easier alteration of digital videos and photos, then the ability to create convincing fake evidence is improved, but the authenticity and trustworthiness of digital evidence deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by capturing and hashing the digital content at the moment of creation or acquisition, before any potential AI manipulation can occur. This establishes a baseline cryptographic fingerprint that can later be used to verify whether the content has been altered by AI or other means.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for creating and retrieving an immutable digital testimony involving activating a process on a device with a unique identifier and authenticating the creator of an immutable digital testimony using a unique user ID registered with a testimony network. The device activates associated cameras to generate a media stream. Frames are hashed using a selected scheme to create stream hashes, forming a live stream hash, and capturing metadata to be recorded on a blockchain. The stream media and hashing scheme are transmitted to a cloud server for storage, with cloud or distributed file system (DFS) addresses retrieved to determine where the media is saved. The live stream media is encrypted and sent to the DFS, encrypted media addresses are received, and the stream media is saved locally on the device.