What is the difference between authentication of a photograph and a video?

What is the difference between authentication of a photograph and a video?

• A. Photographs are authenticated by a witness with knowledge; videos require chain of custody and verification that they are accurate.
• B. Photographs are authenticated by chain of custody; videos require a witness with knowledge.
• C. Both photographs and videos require no authentication if they are self-authenticating.
• D. Photographs must be certified by an expert to be admitted.

Answer: (A)

Authentication is about proving the item is what it purports to be. For a photograph, a witness with knowledge can identify the subject and testify that the image faithfully represents the scene at the time it was taken. For a video, because moving images can be more easily altered or tampered with, the court often requires showing a chain of custody to prove who handled the recording and that it remains an accurate, unaltered depiction of the events. Self-authenticating or expert certification aren’t typically required for ordinary photos, and videos aren’t exempt from authentication; the emphasis for video is on provenance and accuracy. This is why the described distinction—photographs authenticated by a knowledgeable witness, videos requiring chain of custody and verification of accuracy—best captures the difference.

Authentication is about proving the item is what it purports to be. For a photograph, a witness with knowledge can identify the subject and testify that the image faithfully represents the scene at the time it was taken. For a video, because moving images can be more easily altered or tampered with, the court often requires showing a chain of custody to prove who handled the recording and that it remains an accurate, unaltered depiction of the events. Self-authenticating or expert certification aren’t typically required for ordinary photos, and videos aren’t exempt from authentication; the emphasis for video is on provenance and accuracy. This is why the described distinction—photographs authenticated by a knowledgeable witness, videos requiring chain of custody and verification of accuracy—best captures the difference.