Citizen Photojournalism: Seal Sensitive Evidence Instantly
Published: June 4, 2026 · fotoperiodismo · evidencia · ugc · Leer este artículo en español
Anyone capturing sensitive material can seal it instantly without creating an account: upload the file at /certificar, the server computes its SHA-256 fingerprint and issues a timestamp with a signed certificate and a public link. The limit is 10 certifications per hour, enough to cover an unfolding event without friction.
Why the first minutes matter
An image captured at the scene starts circulating within minutes, and every messaging forward recompresses or crops it. When someone asks hours later which file was the original and since when it exists, there is no longer an easy way to prove it. Sealing before sharing flips that situation: the fingerprint and the date are fixed first, and every later copy can be compared against that starting point. It is a thirty-second gesture that turns a loose photo into material with a verifiable history.
How to seal from the street
From a phone browser or from the native Android app, the process fits in three gestures: pick the file, declare the identity you want attached, and confirm. There is no registration, password, or mandatory install, and the public view of the seal masks contact details, so sharing the link does not expose the person who captured the material. The signed certificate and the legal receipt are available to download and keep. Afterwards, any newsroom or organization can check the fingerprint at /verify without asking anyone for permission.
What the seal protects and what it does not
The seal fixes integrity and existence on a date according to the server clock, with a 7-link traceability chain that reads without jargon. It does not verify the declared identity, does not guarantee judicial value, and does not replace the judgment of whoever evaluates the material later. It is not an anonymity tool either: it masks contact details in the public view, but the operational security of the person documenting remains their own responsibility. With those expectations clear, the seal delivers exactly what it promises. Documenting well is also a way of protecting yourself: the sooner the fingerprint of the original is fixed, the less room remains for anyone to rewrite the story of your material and your work later on.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account or an install to seal a photo?
No. The /certificar page works from any browser and allows up to 10 certifications per hour with no sign-up. If you document frequently from a phone, the native Android app speeds things up, but it is optional. Either way you receive a signed certificate, a legal receipt, and a public verification link.
Does sharing the public link expose my details?
The public view of the seal masks the contact details attached to the certification, so the link shows the fingerprint, the timestamp, and the traceability without revealing how to reach you. Even so, the content of the image itself may identify you: always weigh what you show before spreading sensitive material.
Should I seal the original or the edited version?
Always seal the original exactly as it left the camera, before cropping, correcting, or compressing. Any edit produces a different SHA-256 fingerprint and would break the comparison. If you later publish an edited version, you can seal it separately too: you will hold two seals documenting original and derivative with their own dates.
Seal your content now
Free, no account required, with a public verification link.
Veritas UGC generates technical evidence (hash, timestamp and traceability). It is not legal advice nor a government IP registry.