Classification
Footage Classification
Verified Footage is real, unedited moments from real places. We classify each clip by how thoroughly its origin is verified, so every level tells you what it’s suited for, from everyday b-roll to systems that demand hard proof.
A phone-verified, real person uploaded a genuine clip — and we keep every bit of metadata the file carries, down to the camera it was shot on.
How a contributor reaches it
- A phone-verified account (OTP) uploads a genuine clip.
- The location is self-reported, because the file carries no embedded GPS — as with a cinema/pro camera, or a phone recorded with Location off.
What we verify
- Real, phone-verified human
- Self-attested as genuine & cleared to share
- All available camera & technical metadata, preserved
Location
Best for
The file itself proves both the device and the location — read straight from the original capture, not typed in.
How a contributor reaches it
- The uploaded original carries both device metadata and embedded GPS — the file reports the camera and where it was shot.
- A phone recorded with Location on qualifies; so does any camera original that embeds both device metadata and GPS.
What we verify
- Full camera/device metadata, preserved & cross-checked
- Location read from the device’s own GPS — not self-reported
- Edit-free original — no processing or transcode signal
Location
Best for
Signed the instant it’s captured inside the Verified Footage app — provably real, untouched, and tamper-evident from the moment it’s recorded.
How a contributor reaches it
- Capture inside the Verified Footage iOS app. The bytes are signed in the device’s Secure Enclave the moment they’re recorded — no upload of pre-existing files can earn this.
What we verify
- Cryptographically signed at the moment of capture
- Tamper-evident — any later edit breaks the seal
- Hardware-attested genuine device + app
- Bound to these exact frames (the file’s hash)
Location
Best for
The open industry standard for content authenticity: the camera itself cryptographically signs the footage at capture (C2PA / Content Credentials), independently verifiable by anyone — no app required. The ceiling of the model; no footage qualifies yet.
How a contributor reaches it
- Requires a camera that natively embeds a signed C2PA manifest at the moment of capture — an emerging standard not produced by today’s iPhones, so nothing earns this label yet.
What we verify
- Camera-native cryptographic signature (open C2PA standard)
- Independently verifiable by any Content Credentials tool — not just us
- Tamper-evident provenance + edit history in the manifest
Location
Best for
Verified vs. Signed vs. Certified
Three live levels today, each with its own job — not a ranking where one wins. Any clip is usable at every level; the tier only matters when your use has a specific requirement. (C2PA, above, is the open-standard ceiling we’ll recognize once cameras sign natively — no footage qualifies yet.)
Verified — the default
A real, accountable person stands behind every Verified clip, and we keep all the metadata the file carries — often including the camera. That’s what the vast majority of agents, AI systems, and creative work actually need; reach for it by default. Verified is the standard, not a runner-up.
Signed — location-proven
Carries the full technical fingerprint, and the location is read straight from the device that shot it — not typed in. The step up when your use needs the place to be real: ground-truth, licensing, recommendation, or quality training.
Certified — for the rare few
Cryptographically signed at capture, so it’s provable rather than trusted. Built for the narrow set of systems that can’t take anyone’s word for it — security, legal evidence, fraud, high-stakes automation. Most projects never need it; the few that do can’t proceed without it.
How to meet each standard
More effort, higher assurance — and higher-tier footage becomes eligible to be featured and licensed.
How it works
For contributors
- Add footage from your camera roll, the Files app, or by capturing in the app.
- Every clip is classified automatically as Verified, Signed, or Certified.
- When someone uses your footage, you’re notified and credited on your profile.
For users
- Find real footage through search, the API, or MCP (Model Context Protocol).
- Filter by classification to match the assurance your use case needs.
- Use it anywhere: agents, AI tools, commercial work, and beyond.