Provenance Data

Technical information embedded in digital content to verify its authenticity and origin under the california-ai-transparency-act-sb-942.

Definition

Per Section 22757.1(i), "provenance data" means data that is embedded into digital content, or that is included in the digital content's metadata, for the purpose of verifying the digital content's authenticity, origin, or history of modification.

Categories

The Act distinguishes between two types of provenance data:

1. system-provenance-data: Non-personal technical information that detection tools may output
2. personal-provenance-data: Privacy-sensitive information that must be protected

Implementation Methods

Provenance data may be included:

• Embedded: Directly within the digital content itself
• Metadata: As structural or descriptive information accompanying the content

Purpose

Provenance data serves to verify:

• Authenticity: Whether content is genuine or has been altered
• Origin: The source or creator of the content
• Modification History: How and when content has been changed

Role in AI Transparency

Under the Act, provenance data enables:

• ai-detection-tools to identify AI-generated content
• latent-disclosures to convey technical information about content creation
• Users to assess content authenticity and origin

Technical Standards

The law requires that latent disclosures be "consistent with widely accepted industry standards," suggesting alignment with emerging technical standards for digital content provenance and authenticity verification.