Introduction

Hard-won trust in digital content and platforms has steadily been eroded over the last decade with the rise of disinformation and digital fraud. 

As the capabilities of artificial intelligence have continued to grow, the foundation of trust in the authenticity of digital content has been eroded to the point that consumers no longer know what to trust. This poses a fundamental threat to all aspects of the digital economy.

With growing concern about deep-fake technologies, increasingly sophisticated phishing attacks, state-sponsored social media disinformation, and the mirroring of email driving accounting fraud, helping users determine what is real from what is fake is a pressing concern not only for the technology industry but governments.     

In 2023 the U.S. government passed an executive order to not only regulate AI technology but also to develop countermeasures and solutions that offer a safe, secure and trustworthy environment for the digital world. The order mandates the government and private sector build technologies to offset the risks posed by AI.

The U.S. is far from alone. As a result, demand for technology that enhances the safety and security of digital content is exponentially growing. 

In this paper we detail Tauth.io’s unique approach to digital content authentication to address these issues. In addition to providing a high-level technical overview of our core technology, we outline details of SAAS, IAAS, and application-based implementations, as well as use cases.    

Content Authentication Today

We believe the key to (re-)building trust in digital content is to ensure that creators have the ability to quickly and simply authenticate content in a way that gives consumers the ability to trust it was actually produced by the company or individual that authored it.

This is a significant challenge, one many in the industry are focused on addressing. The verification of users by X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn are just two examples of what is being used on closed platforms to confirm the identity of users posting content.

Another path we are seeing new companies adopt is the inclusion of digital watermarks into content, or QR codes that incorporate geolocation data to authenticate where and when video or photographs have been taken. Ensuring the geolocation or QR data cannot be falsified, and to make the process as simple as possible, is key to success. However, we believe the idea that a user will view a QR code to validate the authenticity of a document is optimistic.            

Another response to the question of trusted content has been the creation of new communities that start with the verification of users to create new safe spaces for content producers and their audiences. While content posted by authenticated users offers a high degree of trust, the key question is what happens when content is shared or faked so that it is no longer in that technology environment or chain of custody of the creator. Unless the process of authentication is quick and simple – essentially one-click – the validation process risks becoming a block to adoption.     

It is important to note that technology to verify users’ identities is not new. For example, the technology behind DocuSign to confirm the identities of both parties signing contracts and documents has worked effectively  by using what, in effect, is a closed system between the signatories.

Although there is significant attention being paid to identifying whether AI has been used to create digital content, going forward there will likely be an AI fingerprint in almost all content. We believe this means the priority for authentication needs to be determining if content was developed by a trusted creator or company.     

Tauth.io Technology                                    

We founded Tauth.io to address the emerging needs and challenges around the authentication of digital content. Development work on the core technology started in 2020 and has continued with significant ongoing investment. Our technology can be used across platforms and widely used programs.          

Leveraging blockchain, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), and using zero-knowledge proofs, the Tauth.io core platform provides robust, AI-proof document authentication that is both simple and quick.

The innovative technology of Tauth not only guarantees the irrevocable integrity of documents through blockchain, but also ensures robust identity verification via PKI. The zero-knowledge proofs’ module introduces a layer of privacy, allowing for secure document verification without disclosing sensitive information.

Tauth addresses document and digital content authentication of ownership that complies with both U.S. and eIDAS regulation, and provides a future-proofed and secure experience for content producers and consumers.

One-Click Authentication

The approach enables one-click authentication of content by owners (individuals or companies), the integration of a digital watermark and, when integrated into technology infrastructure or our consumer-facing application, the automatic confirmation that a document has been authenticated. 

Tauth Blockchain

Tauth’s blockchain technology ensures the integrity of documents by recording every signed document on the Tauth Blockchain, making alterations or tampering virtually impossible. The blockchain component ensures transparency while maintaining security, instilling confidence in the authenticity of documents. The blockchain technology is the backbone of Tauth, ensuring that all documents are secure and tamper-proof.

Tauth Public Key Infrastructure

Tauth’s Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) facilitates the secure electronic transfer of information through a pair of cryptographic keys – public and private – ensuring that users are who they claim to be. PKI enhances security protocols by enabling encrypted communication with digital signature creation and verification. PKI is a crucial component of Tauth, ensuring that all users are verified and authenticated before they can sign or access documents.

Zero-Knowledge

Tauth’s zero-knowledge proofs enable secure document verification without exposing sensitive information or compromising privacy. This technology enables one party to prove to another that a statement is true without conveying any specific information apart from the truth of the statement itself. Zero-knowledge proofs are a critical component of Tauth’s process.

Digital Fingerprint/Watermark

Tauth generates a digital embedded watermark for each authenticated document that enables it to be recognized and trusted applications and browsers.   

Browser Plugin & Tauth Upload

Users initiate transactions via a browser plugin where documents are uploaded through the Tauth application, a browser plugin, or client technology infrastructure.

Document Fingerprinting/Digital Watermark

Each document undergoes fingerprinting, creating a unique identifier/digital watermark ensuring originality.

DID Wallet

Individuals or organizations involved have DID Wallets enhancing identity management.

Signing Request

Documents are then subjected to signing requests either by self- or third-party authentication.

Zero-Knowledge Authentication

Verifiers authenticate documents using ZK Authentication without accessing sensitive information.

Tauth REST APIs

The entire process is facilitated seamlessly via REST APIs to ensure a smooth user experience.

eIDAS Regulations

Tauth operates consistent with eIDAS regulations, guaranteeing legal recognition for electronic signatures and transactions across the EU and other countries.

U.S./eIDAS Regulations

Tauth’s content authentication process is consistent with U.S. and international regulations that govern electronic signatures. It also complies with eIDAS regulation, a European Union (EU) set of rules that establishes a legal framework for electronic signatures and transactions in the EU internal market.

Application, SAAS & IAAS Solutions

We are building a consumer-facing application as well as SAAS and IAAS implementations for corporations and technology services providers. Each will leverage the core authentication technology. When integrated into a web browser or client application, Tauth will provide one-click document authentication for content, and the ability to automatically recognize and prioritize authenticated content in the same way browsers currently recognize that a website may not have an SSL certificate.                  

Case Study

Tauth.io can be applied across all digital content. Examples include media content, press releases, marketing documents, financial statements or other information sent by email. 

For a media organization, for example, it provides the opportunity to authenticate content in ways that show users that an article is genuine and was produced by, for example, The New York Times. A journalist or editor working for the Times would have the ability to authenticate the article or build this into the publishing process by creating a digital watermark and link in the blockchain. 

If the authenticated article is shared by third parties with other parties as a PDF, it would be read by a browser as authentic, trusted content. The user would be able to click on the document to verify The New York Time’s signature of authenticity embedded in the document.    

Tauth provides real time authentication for creators and audiences quickly and simply with cutting-edge technology.

Conclusion

It’s never been more important for new approaches that help consumers of digital content determine what they can or cannot trust. The growing volume of AI-generated fakes has the potential to cause a breakdown in the fundamental foundational confidence required for digital commerce. This is an existential issue for individuals, companies, and governments.

There are a range of approaches currently in use and coming to market to authenticate content for creators and consumers. Most fall short and fail key tests that will determine widespread adoption. These shortfalls include working in a closed rather than open system and, critically, the ability to quickly and simply authenticate content.                         

Tauth.io is a revolutionary content authentication solution for users and clients. We are redefining content authentication by seamlessly integrating blockchain technology, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), and zero-knowledge proofs to make this a one-click process for individuals, corporations and infrastructure providers.

To find our more contact: slocke@tauth.io or mdanish@tauth.io.