Blog

What a CanonProof certificate actually proves

Methodology · 07 Jan 2026 · by CanonProof Team

What a CanonProof certificate actually proves

CanonProof certifies integrity and authenticity signals for a file — not the truth of the event depicted.

Every verification binds the outcome to the exact bytes you submitted using a SHA-256 fingerprint, then signs the result using ES256 (JWS).

What it proves

  • The file fingerprint (SHA-256) matches the certificate
  • The certificate outcome was issued by CanonProof (signature validates)
  • Forensic indicators were extracted and scored consistently

What it does not prove

  • That the scene is “true” in real-world context
  • Intent, authorship, or chain-of-custody outside the bytes
  • Facts surrounding how/where the file was captured

This distinction is what makes the output defensible in investigative, legal, and insurance workflows.