Classification
Footage Classification
We classify footage by how thoroughly its origin is verified — so each 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, with location and time locked in.
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
- Location & time bound into the signature
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.
- Filter by classification to match the assurance your use case needs.
- Use it anywhere: agents, AI tools, commercial work, and beyond.