SIA New Member Profile: SWEAR

New Security Industry Association (SIA) member SWEAR delivers powerful solutions for organizations and consumers that rely upon the authenticity and accuracy of digital assets, with a platform that protects the truth by mapping and validating the origin of every recording. The company is headquartered in Boise, Idaho, and its technology and solutions have a global reach. SWEAR received the Judges’ Choice Award at the 2024 SIA SIA New Products and Solutions Awards for its SWEAR Authenticity Engine.

SIA spoke with Jason Crawforth, founder and CEO of SWEAR, about the company, the security industry and working with SIA.

Tell us the story of your company.

Jason Crawforth: SWEAR was founded in 2016 with a mission to protect and preserve the authenticity of digital media at the point of capture. We recognized the growing threat of digital manipulation and misinformation fueled by advancements in AI, particularly deepfakes. Our journey began as we sought to create a solution that ensures the authenticity of digital content from its inception, providing an immutable record of reality. Over seven years of research and development, we developed a patented platform that integrates cryptographic fingerprints and blockchain technology, offering unparalleled protection and verification of digital media.

SWEAR began working with the security industry because of its dependence upon digital media assets.  No other industry utilizes video assets to substantiate and document events as the security industry does with their surveillance systems and body cameras. Unfortunately, with the rise in artificial intelligence (AI) digital manipulation tools, the security industry is facing mounting problems to guarantee the authenticity of surveillance assets. SWEAR believes they have the perfect solutions to help the security industry stay ahead of the accelerating AI counterfeit media wave: Real-time protection of digital DNA.

What solutions/services does your business offer in the security industry? And what makes your offerings or your company unique?

JC: Swear offers a comprehensive digital media authenticity platform that ensures the integrity of digital content from the moment it is created. Our key solutions include:

• Digital DNA mapping and fingerprinting
• Blockchain integration: Creating an immutable chain of custody that verifies authenticity
• Cross-device compatibility: Our technology can be used on various devices, including smartphones, surveillance cameras and body cameras.

What sets us apart is our proactive approach to digital authenticity. Unlike traditional forensic methods that detect manipulations after they occur, our solution prevents tampering by securing media at the point of capture. This unique combination of steganography, advanced hashing and blockchain technology ensures that any attempt to alter content is immediately detectable.

What’s something we might not know about your company – or something new you’re doing in security?

JC: SWEAR’S innovative solutions map and protect the digital DNA of surveillance recordings. SWEAR’s framework is the only solution that utilizes Web 3.0 distributed blockchain networks to create an independent notary, creating an immutable chain-of-custody of every recording, frame, pixel and sound bite.

What is your company’s vision, and what are your goals for the security industry?

JC: Our vision is to become the global gold standard in digital media protection and authenticity. We want to establish Swear as the default solution for verifying the integrity of digital content across all sectors, enabling a transparent and trustworthy digital information ecosystem.

What do you think are the biggest opportunities in the security industry right now?

JC: The biggest opportunities lie in addressing the challenges posed by AI-generated media and deepfakes. As these technologies become more sophisticated, the demand for reliable authenticity verification tools will skyrocket. Additionally, integrating these solutions into various industries – from security infrastructure to law enforcement – presents significant growth potential.

What are your predictions for the security industry in the short and long term?

JC: In the short term, we anticipate rapid adoption of media authenticity technologies as awareness of digital manipulation risks grows. Long-term, we expect these technologies to become standard practice, integrated into all forms of digital content creation and dissemination, ensuring a baseline of trust and integrity in the digital world.

What are the biggest challenges facing your company and/or others in the security industry?

JC: The primary challenge is staying ahead of the evolving techniques used in digital forgery and manipulation. As AI technology advances, so too must our methods for ensuring authenticity. Another challenge is the need for widespread adoption and standardization, which requires collaboration across industries and regulatory bodies.

What do you enjoy most about being at your company – and in the security industry?

JC: What I enjoy most is being at the forefront of innovation, creating solutions that address real-world problems and have a significant positive impact on society. In the security industry, the work we do is crucial in maintaining trust and integrity, which is incredibly rewarding.

What does SIA offer that is most important to you/your company? And what do you most hope to get out of your membership with SIA?

JC: SIA offers a platform for collaboration, industry insights and advocacy that are invaluable for a company like SWEAR. We hope to leverage our membership to build partnerships, stay informed on industry trends and contribute to the development of standards and regulations that enhance digital media security and authenticity.

How does your organization engage with SIA? What are your plans for involvement in the next year?

JC: We plan to actively participate in SIA events, contribute to working groups focused on digital media authenticity, and utilize member resources for research and development. Our goal is to be an integral part of the SIA community, helping to shape the future of security technologies.

The views and opinions expressed in guest posts and/or profiles are those of the authors or sources and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Security Industry Association.