索尼完成相机真实性技术C2PA的第二轮AP测试

索尼宣布与美联社完成为期一个月的现场测试，以评估C2PA在相机真实性技术方面的性能。除了相机编写的硬件签名验证外，测试还包括与“照片机械师”制造商camera Bits合作，开发一个保留该签名并跟踪任何更改的工作流程。

索尼此前曾宣布，a7 IV的商业用户将能够在他们的图像中添加安全签名，并表示这一功能现在将扩展到其他型号。

自数字摄影和照片编辑软件问世以来，图像操纵一直是一个越来越令人担忧的问题，最近，随着人工智能工具的出现，操纵和伪造图像变得更加容易。新闻室和摄影记者敏锐地意识到，虚假和被操纵的图像会造成混乱，误导公众，最令人担忧的是，会破坏人们对事实新闻的信任。

从历史上看，索尼并不是摄影记者的首选相机，佳能和尼康几十年来一直主导着这一行业。但在2020年与美联社合作，并作为C2PA（内容来源和真实性联盟）的指导委员会成员开展工作后，该任务正在取得进展。

徕卡上个月宣布了一款相机，该相机可以对图像进行数字签名，并在图像中添加符合C2PA的元数据。尼康展示了一款同样可以做到这一点的Z9原型，这表明行业对解决问题的最佳方案达成了某种共识。

索尼表示，计划明年春季通过a9 III、a1和a7S III的固件更新添加C2PA认证，这表明加密硬件已经出现在这些型号中。这个时间安排可能是有意的，因为它在夏季奥运会和美国总统竞选之前，上述两个时机都是相机制造商吸引摄影记者的重要机会。

Sony Electronics and The Associated Press Complete Testing of Advanced In-Camera Authenticity Technology to Address Growing Concerns Around Fake Imagery

New In-Camera Signature Solution Attaches Digital Certificate to Photos at the Point of Capture to Certify Legitimacy

SAN DIEGO – Nov. 21, 2023 – Today, Sony Electronics announces the completion of a second round of testing for Sony’s in-camera authenticity technology with Associated Press. This in-camera digital signature allows for the creation of a birth certificate for images, validating the origin of the content.
Sony’s authenticity technology provides a machine-based digital signature, removing the opportunity for undetected manipulation at the start. The digital signature is made inside the camera at the moment of capture in the hardware chipset. This security feature is aimed at professionals wanting to safeguard the authenticity of their content and provides an extra layer of security to aid news agencies in their fight against falsified imagery.
“While the rapid evolution of generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) brings new possibilities for creative expression, it has also led to growing concern about the impact of altered or manipulated imagery in journalism,” says Neal Manowitz, President and COO of Sony Electronics. “The dissemination of false information and images has real world social impact that brings harm not only to our photojournalist and news agency partners, but to society as a whole. We care deeply about this challenge and are committed to using our resources to help solve it. Through Sony’s work on the steering committee for C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity), we have helped set the current industry standard for the tracking of editing and manipulation of imagery. Additionally, our in-camera authenticity technology has shown valuable results, and we will continue to push its development towards a wider release.”
“Fake and manipulated images are a major concern for news organizations. Not only do they contribute to mis- and disinformation but ultimately, they erode the public’s trust in factual, accurate imagery,” said David Ake, AP Director of Photography. “We are proud to be working alongside Sony Electronics to create an authentication solution that can help combat this problem.”
Sony and AP’s most recent field test was completed during October of 2023. In this month-long test, both capture authentication and workflow process were evaluated. To accomplish this, Sony partnered with Camera Bits – the company behind the industry standard workflow tool, Photo Mechanic. Alongside Sony and AP, Camera Bits created technology in Photo Mechanic that preserves the camera’s digital signature all the way through the metadata editing process.
“We appreciate the significant challenge that manipulated imagery poses for our partners, and we are highly motivated to play a role in helping solve it,” says Dennis Walker, President and Founder of Camera Bits. “Photo Mechanic has been used by the photojournalism industry for 25 years and continues to evolve as the industry introduces new technology. We are committed to ensuring Photo Mechanic remains a trusted and authentic workflow solution.”
Sony’s new in-camera signature and C2PA authentication is planned for release in a firmware update in the newly announced Alpha 9 III, Alpha 1, and Alpha 7S III in the Spring of 2024 <1>.
<1> Timing for countries and regions may vary. Firmware support for C2PA formats may initially only be available to news agency partners.