About image origin
Content Credentials Explained
Short answer: Content Credentials are signed records that may show how an image was made or edited. A checker can test whether the record still belongs to this file and whether its signature is valid. You still need to consider who signed it and what they actually claimed. A valid record does not prove that the scene is real.
Finding a record is only the first step
| What you see | What it means | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Not found | No source record was found. | Sharing apps, screenshots and exports can remove these records. Their absence does not mean an image is AI-generated. |
| Possible record found | The file may contain Content Credentials. | The record still needs a full check before you rely on it. |
| Could not verify | The record or its signature could not be confirmed for this file. | Do not rely on it to explain the image's origin. |
| Signature checked, signer unconfirmed | The record matches the file, but the checker cannot confirm the signer's trustworthiness. | Check who signed the record before relying on what it says. |
| Verified record | The record matches the file and comes from a signer recognized by the checker. | Read what the record actually says. It does not prove that the scene in the image is real. |
What a trusted record can tell you
It may say which tool created or edited the image and what earlier files were used. A valid signature means those specific claims are still linked to the file being checked. The C2PA specification explains the technical checks in detail.
What it cannot prove
- That the scene in an image really happened.
- That a record includes every edit or later copy.
- That an unfamiliar signer is trustworthy.
- That an image without credentials was made with AI.
- Why someone created or edited an image.
Read the record alongside the image's source and context. Even a verified record does not answer every question about an image.