Why deepfake validation matters
AI‑generated and manipulated media can distort public discourse, damage reputations, and contaminate legal evidence. A defensible process protects truth, trust, and outcomes. Below is a practical, repeatable workflow aligned with our certification methodology.
Step 1 — Secure evidence intake & chain‑of‑custody
Collect the original file when possible. Record who provided it, when, and by what means. Preserve file hashes, maintain access controls, and avoid re‑encoding. Document every handoff for a clean audit trail.
Step 2 — Check provenance & metadata
Examine EXIF/Container metadata, creation times, device signatures, and transmission history. Cross‑verify with the source’s statements. Absence or inconsistency of metadata isn’t proof of fakery but is a risk signal that warrants deeper analysis.
Step 3 — Visual forensic screening
Run error‑level and noise distribution checks, look for boundary mismatches, lighting and shadow conflicts, compression anomalies, and biometric oddities (eyes, teeth, hands). For images, inspect resampling patterns; for video, compare inter‑frame consistency and motion fields.
Step 4 — Audio & video analysis for generative artifacts
Detect cloned voices via spectral patterns, prosody irregularities, and phase artifacts. In video, search for frame synthesis, mouth‑eye desync, and model‑specific artifacts. Correlate findings across modalities—cross‑evidence agreement strengthens conclusions.
Step 5 — Independent verification & certification
Have an independent lab reproduce findings. When outcomes affect courts, brands, or public safety, request a court‑admissible Certificate of Authenticity with a unique ID, methodology summary, evidence appendix, and (optionally) blockchain anchoring.
Red flags to watch
- Perfectly fluent but contextually implausible details or timelines.
- Over‑smoothing, unusual bokeh, warped text, or inconsistent reflections.
- Audio with uniform room tone despite scene changes; unnatural breath/noise gates.
- Unexplained format conversions, missing originals, or fragmented source history.
When to escalate
Escalate to a forensic review when decisions carry legal exposure, potential market impact, or public‑trust implications. Preserve original evidence, provide context, and define deadlines for a prioritized intake.
How Gold Stone Intelligence can help
We offer rapid screening, full forensic analysis, and formal Certificates of Authenticity with chain‑of‑custody. Our reports are structured for legal, corporate, and media standards and can include sworn statements when required.