In a world where AI can generate realistic images in seconds, Faust founder and CEO, Kosuke July Hata, who goes by July, is building a new kind of camera — one that proves a photo was actually taken by a human, on a specific device, at a specific time and place.
Roc Camera is a compact, point-and-shoot–style device that embeds cryptographic proofs into every image it captures. “It’s a camera that takes verifiably real photos in the age of AI,” July says. “It can prove that the photo could have only been taken by this specific camera.”
The camera works by signing sensor data at capture time using a private key embedded in the hardware. These signatures are bundled with the photo to enable later verification. We've covered a similar topic during our episode on verifiable media, and have an earlier blog post that explains how verifiable media fits into the larger vision for verifiability.
In the future, Rock will support selective disclosure of metadata — like confirming a photo was taken in a particular location or date range — without revealing all the details. “What’s actually really valuable is this idea of real photos, and the photos themselves being real, with selective disclosure attached to it” .
As generative AI accelerates, July believes human-captured media will become increasingly valuable. “We think verifiable media is just the entry point,” he says. “In the long run, it’s going to be foundational for machines, vehicles, and agents to prove who they are and what they’re doing — without exposing everything.”
It’s early, but the vision for Roc Camera is clear: in a digital world flooded with synthetic content, authenticity becomes a feature — and a necessity.
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