Numbers Protocol: Blockchain Camera & Photo Integrity

The increasing prevalence of online misinformation and fabricated news poses a significant threat to the health of the public discourse. Combating the spread of false information presents a considerable challenge, as evidenced by a Pew Research Center survey conducted prior to the presidential election, which revealed that 73% of Americans have limited or no trust in major technology companies’ ability to prevent the misuse of their platforms.

To address this issue, the open-source Starling Framework for Data Integrity was developed. This framework utilizes blockchain technology to safeguard the authenticity of online content by generating unique “birth certificates” for images and videos and meticulously documenting any subsequent modifications.

Numbers Protocol, a startup headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, is now working to broaden the accessibility of this technology through commercialization. The company is an active participant in the Starling Framework.

Inspired by the Starling Framework’s commitment to data integrity, Numbers Protocol’s new blockchain camera application, Capture App, operates independently of the initiative. Currently, Capture App is being showcased at CES within the Taiwan Tech Arena pavilion and is available for download on both the App Store and Google Play.

Capture App has applications beyond journalism, including citizen reporting, and can also be utilized by individuals seeking to establish proof of creation for images they share online. Numbers Protocol intends to expand the app’s capabilities by incorporating a video camera function.

A screenshot of blockchain camera app Capture App by Taiwan startup Numbers Protocol

Every photograph captured with the Capture App has its metadata verified and securely recorded on the blockchain (users retain control over their privacy settings, such as location data). Any alterations made to the photo, even those performed using image editing software, are tracked and documented.

According to co-founder Tammy Yang, Numbers Protocol aims to introduce a video recording feature to the app and establish a platform for publishing verified content, ultimately seeking to transform the information landscape. She shared this vision with TechCrunch.

Prior to founding Numbers, Yang collaborated with the Starling Framework, a project jointly created by the USC Shoah Foundation and Stanford University’s Department of Electrical Engineering. The USC Shoah Foundation’s mission centers on preserving testimonies from individuals who have experienced genocide and widespread violence, and the Starling Framework was designed to assist in protecting their photographic and video records. The framework was also employed by Reuters journalists to capture, authenticate, and store images during the U.S. presidential primaries in March. (Additional collaborators on the Starling Framework include FileCoin, Hala Systems, Protocol Labs and Hedera.)

The Starling Framework successfully integrated its technology into the workflows of the USC Shoah Foundation and Reuters, recognizing that many photojournalists rely on digital SLRs and software like Adobe Photoshop. Capture App was developed to provide users with comparable verification functionality and to ensure the preservation of their own data integrity, building upon the advancements made with the Starling Framework.

Yang noted that the rise of fake news and misinformation has heightened public awareness regarding the importance of maintaining the integrity of photographic evidence. While several companies are leveraging blockchain technology for data and content protection, Numbers Protocol specifically concentrates on certifying images at the moment of capture and continuously monitoring any subsequent changes.

“Our primary focus is on the camera itself, ensuring that the integrity of the image is preserved from the instant it is taken,” Yang explained. “Once content is captured on a camera app and then transferred to a content platform, verifying its origin becomes exceedingly difficult. Registering a photo from Facebook on the blockchain holds little significance. It’s fundamentally different if I capture a photo with Capture App and immediately establish a record on the blockchain.”