Faced with images produced by AI, Sony updates its Alpha 1, Alpha 1 II & Alpha 9 III

On the other hand, the updates for Alpha A1 (v 3.00), A1 II (2.00) and A9 III (3.00) bring all the “added support for camera authentication solution“. Understand here that all three devices are now fully compatible with the Camera Authenticity Solution from Sony. Which is anything but minor.

Image certification for photojournalists

Based on the technical fundamentals of C2PA (coalition for the provenance and authenticity of content, Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity in English), the authentication solution introduced in these three professional devices is enriched (finally!) with an image validation site and a digital signature update license.

Concretely, press organizations and independent photographers can now benefit from tools to guarantee the authenticity of images. Any changes (cropping, white balance, resizing, etc.) are added to the file as it moves through the workflow. In short: the Sony site validates the original image, the certified workflow gradually enriches the file. And at the end of the day, we can go back through the modifications of the photo to ensure its veracity.

Since it is not possible to offer a tamper-proof seal, the industry and Sony have therefore preferred a model in which any modification outside the certification flow causes the seal (a digital signature) to be lost. So any file without this signature is potentially suspicious.

The question of service prices and licenses

However, it remains to be seen how this system is implemented in the boxes (we haven't been able to get our hands on it yet). And above all, how much it costs. Because as the page dedicated to this system points out “functions other than C2PA edit history checking, such as 3D detection and edit analysis, are only available if the image reviewer is subscribed to the verification service provided by Sony“. In addition, the camera must, after updating, be recognized by Sony: “To use the Service, please purchase and activate a license“, explains the site well.

For now, Sony explains that “licenses will initially be sold to news outlets, with wider availability thereafter. (as of January 2025)“.

We are therefore waiting to see what the pricing of this service will be – and whether it will be covered by agencies for their freelancers – to assess the solidity of Sony's offer. But one thing is certain: in this area, the Japanese seem to be ahead of the rest of the competition.

Below, the summary table of the other update elements of Alpha A1 (v 3.00), A1 II (2.00) and A9 III (3.00).