The end of deepfakes: A UK startup fingerprinting light to prove whats real could crush global misinformation and $75 billion video piracy market

Date:
Sat, 16 May 2026 01:05:00 +0000

Description:
This UK startup wants to make your physical filming location a fingerprint to verify authenticity, rather than relying on software.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Lightmark is trying to verify the authenticity of any video from any camera It turns your physical filming location into the verifiable fingerprint Video piracy and deepfakes could be ended with this tech UK startup Lightmark claims it has developed a brand new approach to video authentication, embedding a fingerprint of light into footage when its recorded, instead of trying to figure out a way of verifying authenticity afterwards.

The system works by tweaking film set lighting in ways so small that the
human eye cant pick up but crucially, cameras can. When a video is then captured under those modified conditions, it automatically records a hidden signature linked to the physical environment which can be used as a fingerprint to verify authenticity later on. Latest Videos From You may like 'Verify before you act': security expert reveals the simple steps you can
take to stay safe from deepfakes Sam Altman-backed firm warns AI will soon outgrow facial recognition You probably think you can spot an AI fake research suggests you cant Physical location watermarks The resilience of
this new type of system is important, the startup says, because it cant be added after recording, it survives compression and filtering, it doesnt need specialist tools (and works with smartphone cameras), and is designed to withstand AI hacking attempts.

I am certain weve got a real working solution to one of the biggest issues in the age of digital communication and media, founder and inventor Daniel Oblitas Garafulic wrote. We can now create a space where video footage can be trusted beyond any doubt.

Lightmark positions the technology in two separate fields firstly, its a response to the years-old problem of online piracy. The company used the May 2024 fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk as an example, noting that the event lost more than 100 million to illegal streaming in a single night.

The company says its system could help identify exactly which camera feed or venue source is behind leaking the pirated footage. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Globally, Kearney says the online video piracy market is estimated to be
worth a staggering $75 billion a year in lost revenue, but by 2028 this could climb to $125 billion as the trend shows no sign of slowing down.

Secondly, the technology could also be used to rule out AI-generated
deepfakes and other video-based misinformation campaigns, with the founders crediting deepfakes with fooling three in four prospective victims. Extra safety Lightmarks work is noteworthy for two distinct reasons the shift from trying to determine authenticity after content has circulated to pre-capture authentication, and the addition of using physical trusted recording environments on top of existing software solutions. What to read next 'Data
is so ubiquitous nowadays, but were not necessarily coming up with new ways
to protect it': Researchers develop negative light signals that hide transmissions in plain sight Soccer leagues are using real-time AI tools to detect illegal streams and combat piracy European Union wants to ban AI-created images and video in official messaging

Lightmark turns the lighting in a Ministry of Defence facility, an R&D lab,
or a command centre into a tamper-proof signature on every video filmed
inside it, Bifrost Defence MD Nicholas MacGowan shared.

In a press release, the startup criticized existing systems for being insufficient, with C2PA metadata standards not protected against being stripped and AI-based detectors being more prone to errors.

A UK patent application for the technology covering 15 core claims has
already been filed, and the startup is looking to raise 1.5 million to move from prototype to early commercial deployments as soon as 2027.

Lightmarks technology could be useful across political speeches, interviews, press conferences and other international discussions, such as those carried out by the UN. Its developers also argue that it could have major
implications for defense and intelligence, as well as war crime
investigations and frontline reporting amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/the-end-of-deepfakes-a-uk-startup-fingerprinting -light-to-prove-whats-real-could-crush-global-misinformation-and-usd75-billion -video-piracy-market


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