Truebees

TrueBees has developed advanced AI technology for detecting deepfakes with 97.99% accuracy. Their platform uses blockchain for secure verification, helping press agencies, media outlets, and lawyers maintain content integrity.

AI Technology and Deepfake Detection

TrueBees has developed and trained algorithms to detect deepfakes with 97.99% accuracy on a reference test dataset. The company specializes in detecting fully synthetic images portraying human faces, though it does not identify partially altered images, screenshots, frames from deepfake videos, or non-photorealistic content such as art, graphics, or renderings.

Their unique approach enables detection of AI-generated portraits shared on social media platforms, even after images have been compressed, cropped, or resized—common manipulations that complicate accurate classification. The system employs fine-tuned deep networks to process these images effectively.

Implementation and Usage

The company requires users to create an account and add a payment method before initiating verification. Users have the option to verify images directly through the TrueBees platform or integrate the service via API. As the company advises, users must always verify images before sharing to prevent accidental dissemination of AI-generated content.

Target Industries and Application

TrueBees serves three primary user groups: press and news agencies, media outlets, and freelance journalists. These users benefit from tools that facilitate rapid fact-checking, streamline news editing processes, and ensure content trustworthiness when publishing. The company also supports lawyers and legal advisors by providing trustworthy evidence for their cases.

Technical Approach

The system combines digital media forensics with blockchain technology to verify image authenticity. Specifically, it employs forensic analysis algorithms developed for multimedia classification. The platform processes user-submitted images through three main steps: initial content analysis, anomaly detection, and corroboration checking.

Financial Support and Development

The company's development received €206,692.50 from the 2021-2027 FESR Operational Program of the Autonomous Province of Trento, aligned with the Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) of Trentino's "ICT & Digital Transformation" area. Financial support from European funds helps ensure the project's continued progress and innovation in multimedia classification and blockchain-based results storage.

Blockchain and Secure Verification

Using a combination of AI and blockchain technology, TrueBees ensures that each verification result is securely stored on a decentralized ledger. This approach provides an immutable record of each image's authenticity, with results independently verified through blockchain technology that prevents tampering and ensures transparency.

The company achieved this by implementing blockchain integration that allows for secure, transparent, and immutable storage of verification outcomes. This innovation extends beyond just storing results, providing an additional layer of security through the cryptographic verification that blockchain technology offers.

Financial Support and Development

The project's development received significant backing through the European Funds of the Autonomous Province of Trento, specifically aligned with the Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) focus on ICT & Digital Transformation. This funding, amounting to €206,692.50 from the 2021-2027 FESR Operational Program (contribution to the development of innovative start-ups - FESR Notice No. 1/2023), has been crucial for advancing the company's technology and ensuring its alignment with regional economic development strategies.

User Verification and Integration

When verifying multimedia content, users begin by creating an account and adding a payment method, ensuring all transactions meet GDPR guidelines for legitimate interests and contract execution. The free account allows users to verify one image at a time, while verified accounts enable unlimited requests.

The company offers two integration options for users: direct platform verification and API integration. The API allows developers to incorporate TrueBees' verification capabilities into their existing workflows, though the company notes that users must verify images before sharing to maintain content integrity.

To accommodate various user needs, TrueBees provides customized solutions for different industries. Press and news agencies benefit from tools that facilitate rapid fact-checking, while freelance journalists can ensure their work meets professional standards. The company's technology also benefits lawyers and legal advisors by providing trusted evidence for their cases.

Expertise in AI-Generated Content

The system's capabilities extend beyond basic detection, as it can identify AI-generated portraits after they've been shared on social media platforms. This ability to track images through compression, cropping, and size reduction makes it uniquely effective at preventing the spread of AI-generated content across the web.

By focusing on fully synthetic human-faced images from social media, TrueBees addresses a critical gap in existing detection methods. While other systems may struggle with images that have undergone common processing techniques like compression or cropping, TrueBees's fine-tuned deep networks enable accurate classification even after these modifications.

The company's expertise is particularly valuable given the growing prevalence of AI-generated content. As deepfake technology becomes more accessible, the risk of misinformation increases significantly. By providing a reliable verification service, TrueBees helps media professionals maintain the integrity of their work and ensures that their audiences receive accurate information.

Privacy and Data Protection

TrueBees processes personal data through their website and services in ways that align with GDPR guidelines, collecting information for specific purposes related to website functionality and service execution. The company monitors website usage to improve functionality and understand user behavior, collecting basic information like IP addresses, browser type, and operating system details. When users contact the company, they provide essential data such as names, email addresses, and mailing addresses to process service requests and provide support.

For subscription services, TrueBees requires more detailed information including usernames, passwords, billing addresses, and payment details such as credit card numbers. The company handles this information securely through Stripe payments, storing only the necessary information for service execution. Financial transactions and payment details are crucial for service operations but are protected through standard security practices.

The data collected serves both operational and analytical purposes, with website usage data used to enhance user experience and subscription information enabling service provision. The company bases its data processing on legitimate interests (Article 6 of the GDPR), ensuring that all data collection and usage align with these guidelines.