Fontes Promotes a Transparent Digital Environment on Opening Day

Press release

Phoeniz, AZ – January 13, 2025 – This afternoon at the Arizona Legislature, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, in collaboration with Microsoft and Truepic, announced a pilot initiative to use secure “Content Credentials” on images from the Office of the Arizona Secretary of State, which help validate content authenticity. Content Credentials are data attached to a piece of content, such as an image or video, allowing the public to review the credentials to understand the origin and authenticity of the content.

With the advent of new technologies, including generative AI, it is increasingly important for content consumers, including voters, to discern between original and synthetic images. This initiative aims to safeguard the authenticity of digital media, providing Arizona voters with transparent and verifiable visual content.

Secretary Fontes emphasized the transformative nature of this technology, stating, “I will be encouraging other leaders to adopt this verification method with their content, much like a blue checkmark for photos and videos. I want Arizona voters to leverage transparent digital environments, where authenticity is clearly marked, to protect against the manipulation of images and videos.”

This initiative does not promise to eradicate image deception but to enhance digital transparency through indicators on official images and videos. These indicators help identify authentic content, contributing to a more informed and cautious approach to digital media consumption. Going forward, when voters see media from the Arizona Secretary of State with valid Content Credentials, they can be assured that the content they are consuming is authentic.

The Arizona Secretary of State’s Office captured Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA)-compliant photos during Opening Day using the Microsoft Content Integrity Tools, which is supported by and will be displayed to the public using technology from Truepic.

Given the complex nature of today's media landscape, it won’t always be possible to add or see Content Credentials on all official media, highlighting the need for voters to remain vigilant to manipulated and deceptive content. The Secretary of State promotes comprehensive content recommendations to empower voters:

1. Learn: Access election information from reliable sources. The proliferation of misleading content, including deepfakes, necessitates vigilant verification practices. Visit the official Arizona Secretary of State website for accurate and up-to-date election details.

2. Engage: Actively participate in democratic processes and civil discussions. Use tools like Arizona.Vote to find polling locations or request mail-in ballots, and share correct information to counteract misinformation.

3. Question: Employ critical thinking as a defense against misinformation. Verify content through multiple credible sources and be skeptical of media that triggers strong emotional reactions.

4. Report: Report false election information to the platforms where it is found and to the AZSOS via our hotline at 1-877-THE-VOTE or elections@azsos.gov.

To understand more about this initiative and how it enhances digital media credibility,

Visit Truepic to learn how they ensure the origin and history of digital media are transparent.

Visit Microsoft to understand how they help secure elections and combat deepfakes.

Visit our dedicated Certified Media page to view official AZSOS C2PA media, find the Opening Day photos starting on page 12.