Methodology · updated 10 October 2026
A record you can examine.
TraceHumanity records a creator’s claim, the supporting evidence and the review outcome. The level tells you what was checked. A cryptographic signature protects the record’s integrity; it does not make every underlying claim infallible.
What each level means
- L1 · Self declared
- A named account declares authorship. This is not an independent evidence review and does not carry the same assurance as L2+.
- L2 · Evidence reviewed
- A reviewer examines evidence associated with the specific work, such as originals, layered projects and process documentation. The reviewer records their reasoning and may ask for more evidence or decline certification.
- L3 · Device verified
- Requires an original signed capture and a documented independent check of its signature and trust chain, in addition to supporting evidence. Selecting a file type or receiving a software score is not sufficient.
- L4 · Live verified
- Requires an arranged live session, its recording, a challenge response and two independent reviewer approvals. Contact us to coordinate before submitting session evidence.
- L5 · Institutional
- Requires institutional attestation, confirmation of the institution’s authority and senior review. This is arranged individually; an artist cannot obtain it simply by choosing the highest level.
The technical limits
The platform checks uploaded file hashes on the server and maintains signed certificate records and an audit trail. Automated evidence scores help organise review; they are not forensic proof or an AI detector. Our current signed provenance JSON is not a fully interoperable C2PA manifest, and the API does not report it as verified C2PA. Watermark recovery depends on the format, image and transformations applied.
A certificate does not establish copyright ownership, guarantee a successful marketplace appeal, or imply endorsement by Adobe, Etsy, Getty Images or another institution. It can be revoked if a claim is found unreliable. Check the current verification status when relying on a certificate.
Your choice, your evidence
Your first three works are free across all levels, once per account. Uploading a new work uses one of these slots; continuing its draft does not. Each level’s evidence requirements still apply. Public registry listing and sharing evidence images are optional. Additional works require a paid plan or, for institutional work, an agreed arrangement.