Module 03

Metadata & Provenance Analysis

Metadata tells the hidden story of digital content. This module teaches you to read and interpret the provenance data embedded in files.

What is Content Metadata?

Every digital file carries metadata - information about when, where, and how it was created. For content authentication, metadata provides crucial evidence about a file's provenance and integrity.

EXIF Data in Images

Photographs contain EXIF data that can reveal camera make and model, GPS coordinates, timestamps, editing software used, and modification history. AI-generated images typically lack authentic EXIF data or contain telltale synthetic markers.

// Example metadata structure { "CreateDate": "2024-03-15T14:32:00Z", "Software": "Adobe Photoshop 25.0", "ModifyDate": "2024-03-15T15:01:22Z", "ContentCredentials": "C2PA v1.3" }

C2PA Content Credentials

The Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) standard provides a framework for embedding verifiable provenance data in digital content. Understanding C2PA is essential for modern content authentication.