Blockchain media authentication app eyes news journalism as primary use case

Tapping into underlying blockchain infrastructure, Nodle’s Click application allows users to authenticate media content for various use cases.

Nodle, a decentralized infrastructure network provider, has recently launched the first version of its blockchain-based media authentication application, Click. This application is designed to combat the spread of artificially generated media and fake news.

Developed with a software development kit (SDK) for Nodle’s ContentSign solution, Click leverages blockchain technology to cryptographically verify the integrity of data captured by mobile devices. It supports the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) and is a member of the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), a project led by Adobe and the Linux Foundation aimed at establishing a future standard for media attestation.

According to Nodle CEO Micha Anthenor Benoliel, Click is primarily aimed at photographers, citizen journalists, reporters, law enforcement, sports fans, paparazzi, and content creators. With its ties to C2PA and CAI, the application is particularly suited for news and journalism. It is currently available on the Apple App Store, and an Android version is in development.

To authenticate an image or video, users must capture the content using the Click app camera. The content is then signed and recorded on Nodle’s blockchain, stored in the device’s local gallery, and displayed on Click’s public page with attribution to the contributor. Benoliel emphasized that for authentication, content must be captured directly through the Click app camera without any editing or AI alterations, ensuring the authenticity of the media.

Benoliel envisions Click partnering with stock image platforms like Getty and AFP, serving as a “source of truth” for field-captured content. This partnership could empower content consumers by allowing them to verify the authenticity of images and videos.

Addressing intellectual property and accreditation concerns, especially for media captured at official events, Benoliel mentioned plans to incorporate advanced attribution features or geofencing to restrict image capture to authorized individuals at such events.

Nodle’s infrastructure is designed to handle large volumes of content. While Click will store content off-chain and only record it on the Nodle chain, this approach enables the storage of over 20 million records per day, with scalability for higher volumes in the future.

The platform will always offer a free version, though the upload volume available to users may vary, with a premium offering potentially introduced later. Currently, Click serves primarily as an authentication tool for photo and video content, proving ownership and real-world authenticity. It does not offer photo or video detection or royalty management services.

The use of blockchain technology in journalism for immutable and transparent information storage and dissemination is still relatively untapped. In 2018, the Associated Press (AP) entered a content licensing partnership with blockchain-based startup Civil, aiming to deliver content on the platform. However, Civil was closed in 2020, with its team and technology joining Consensys to develop identity solutions on Ethereum.