Devices

Blockchain key to verifying authenticity of real-world media – Nodle

October 5, 2023 Coin Telegraph

As AI capabilities continue to evolve, proving the authenticity of real-world images, video and content could hinge on blockchain solutions.

Decentralized network provider Nodle is working with the likes of Adobe and the Linux Foundation to use blockchain technology to prove the authenticity of real-world content captured by devices.

In correspondence with Cointelegraph, Nodle co-founder Garrett Kinsman outlined the firm’s upcoming software development kit for its ContentSign solution that will look to prove the integrity of data from its moment of capture using blockchain.

Nodle is bringing ContentSign to the Content Authenticity Initiative, a project it has joined that is being led by Adobe and Linux Foundation to create a future standard for media attestation.

Nodle is developing a variety of blockchain-based technologies focused on capturing and authenticating real-world data. As Cointelegraph has previously explored, its main offering is a network leveraging smartphone bluetooth connectivity to rent computing power, storage and Bluetooth capability of devices to broaden the footprint of IoT networks.

A visualization of Nodle's ContentSign solution capturing a real-world image that its data cryptographically signed and published on a blockchain. Source: Nodle.

Kinsman says that ContentSign is set to form part of this puzzle as a means to prove that a physical camera or device has captured a specific piece of visual media and its corresponding metadata.

“The way this is done is by having a stamp that proves that a genuine camera has captured the video, the video has been signed by the private key only known by this camera, and a footprint of this video has been published to a blockchain.”

The technology could prove useful for a myriad of use cases, including the field of journalism. As Kinsman explains hypothetically, a journalist can capture video or picture of a breaking news event using a camera embedded with ContentSign technology:

“As the video is recorded, ContentSign ensures it is stamped and signed with a unique private key exclusive to that specific camera.”

The footprint of the video is then minted as a non-fungible token on the Nodle blockchain. The signature validates that the content originates from a genuine source and hasn't been manipulated or artificially generated.

Kinsman adds that the current iteration has the service emulated on a mobile phone through ContentSign’s SDK but future implementations could mirror technology found in cryptocurrency hardware wallets:

“In the future, the camera will embed a secure element, similar to what you can find on a Ledger hardware wallet.”

Blockchain solutions similar to ContentSign could prove crucial as the generation of AI content amplifies, driving the need for solutions distinguishing between authentic and fabricated content.

“Blockchains, with their inherent characteristics of decentralization, transparency, censorship resistance, and immutability, provide an essential framework to anchor authenticity.”

Kinsman says that ContentSign is being directly explored as a solution for the insurance sector to process claims with accuracy and integrity. ContentSign will ensure that submitted visual proof for insurance claims are genuine and have not been tampered with or generated by AI.

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FTX’s Bankman-Fried could ‘conceivably’ get bail revoked, says judge

February 17, 2023 Coin Telegraph

Bail

A federal judge said there was "probable cause" to believe that SBF engaged in activities that could land him in jail.

Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried could “conceivably” have his bail revoked after a federal judge said there was “probable cause” to believe he may have engaged in attempted witness tampering.

In the Feb. 16 hearing on Bankman-Fried’s bail conditions, Judge Lewis Kaplan said there was “probable cause to believe that he [Bankman-Fried] has committed or attempted to commit a federal felony while on release, namely witness tampering” according to multiple reports.

Kaplan suggested that this could “conceivably” see the FTX founder sent back to jail until his trial date in October.

Kaplan noted however that the Feb. 16 hearing was not a bail revocation hearing, but added that it “could get there, conceivably.”

"Why am I being asked to turn him loose in this garden of electronic devices?” Kaplan reportedly said.

Law Professor Richard Painter echoed the sentiment in a Feb. 17 tweet, suggesting that witness tampering might not be a good idea given his current circumstances:

“Hey Crypto Bro: Witness tampering while out on bail is a great way to go right back to jail.”

On Feb. 15, prosecutors asked Judge Kaplan to further restrict Bankman-Fried’s device usage to a single monitored computer and cellphone in a letter.

Prosecutors had pointed to Bankman-Fried’s recent device usage as cause for concern, seeking to further restrict and monitor his usage “with limited exceptions.”

During the hearing, Judge Kaplan suggested that it was naive to believe that these restrictions would stop him from using the internet, given that Bankman-Fried is living with his two parents, who both have laptops and cellphones.

Prosecutor Nicholas Roos seemingly agreed, suggesting there may not be a “great solution,” which prompted Kaplan to imply that revoking Bankman-Fried’s bail could eliminate these risks, noting:

“There is a solution, but it’s not one anybody has proposed yet.”

Bankman-Fried’s lawyers however argued that they need him to be able to work on his defense, claiming: “We cannot go through these extensive financial records without him.”

The former FTX CEO has been prohibited from using certain messaging apps as of Feb. 9 after he was found to have contacted potential witnesses. He was also temporarily banned from using a VPN after prosecutors accused him of using it on two occasions on Jan. 29 and Feb. 12.

The VPN ban was not extended in the Feb. 16 hearing.

Many from the crypto community have expressed disbelief that Bankman-Fried is yet to have his bail revoked under the circumstances.

Yes, why? What exactly does @SBF_FTX have on the prosecution that they’re not demanding his bail be immediately revoked? Or do they think he can take down @binance if he flips? Is he waving that at them? Because none of this makes sense otherwise. https://t.co/l66Qls0d46
— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) February 16, 2023

Sam Bankman-Fried may no longer be allowed to play League of Legends

February 16, 2023 Coin Telegraph

$250M

Sam Bankman-Fried is, for the most part, still able to freely access the internet through various devices. Prosecutors want to change that.

Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of crypto exchange FTX, may no longer be able to play League of Legends and other video games if newly proposed changes to his bail conditions from United States prosecutors are approved.

In a Feb. 15 letter to United States District Judge Lewis Kaplan, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams asked the court to further expand restrictions surrounding Bankman-Fried’s electronic device usage.

They pointed to Bankman-Fried’s recent device usage as cause for concern, and agreed with the court’s intuition that it was “shortsighted” to focus only on restricting the use of apps, adding:

“There is now a record before the Court of a defendant who appears motivated to circumvent monitoring and find loopholes in existing bail conditions. The appropriate course, therefore, is broader restrictions on the defendant’s cellphone, tablet, computer, and internet usage, with limited exceptions.”

The prosecutors propose that Bankman-Fried should be prohibited from using cellphones, tablets, computers, or the internet, except for very limited uses such as reviewing pre-trial evidence, communicating with lawyers and accessing emails.

Here’s the list of proposed new bail restrictions that SBF is going completely ignore, without any real consequences https://t.co/cMVCdmRAj3
— Sean Tuffy (@SMTuffy) February 15, 2023

He would be restricted to using a single computer and cell phone, which in addition to his Gmail account would be monitored using a “pen register” — a device or process that essentially produces a list of phone numbers of internet addresses contacted from a specific source.

Bankman-Fried is understood to be an avid gamer, having reportedly played online video games such as League of Legends during fundraising rounds while at FTX.

Bankman-Fried also mentioned during an interview with New York Times on Nov. 13 that he likes to play games, as it helps him “unwind a bit” and clear his mind.

Under the newly proposed bail conditions, it appears that Bankman-Fried will no longer be allowed to partake in the activity.

Earlier this month, the former CEO was prohibited from using encrypted messaging apps after he was found to have contacted potential witnesses in his criminal case.

He has also been temporarily banned from using VPNs on Feb. 14, after the Justice Department discovered he had used a VPN on two different occasions — in order to watch sports coverage. This ban will be further discussed during a Feb. 16 hearing.

Many from the crypto community were disgusted by the initial conditions of Bankman-Fried’s bail, which required him to wear an ankle bracelet but afforded him full computer and internet access from his parents luxurious home in sunny California.

SBF will be spending Christmas at home with his parents playing video games rather than locked up in a cell. What kind of justice is that?
— Layah Heilpern (@LayahHeilpern) December 23, 2022