Finding Signatures for Orphaned Content

The Pain Point

You see a screenshot of a tweet or a downloaded image. It might have been signed originally, but the signature file is missing. The content is "orphaned." How do you verify it?

The Solution: Reverse Lookup (Example: "Shazam for Signatures")

Vouch proposes a registry where creators can upload signatures indexed by the content's digital fingerprint (hash).

• You have the image. You calculate its fingerprint.
• You ask the Registry: "Does anyone have a signature for this fingerprint?"
• Registry: "Yes, the NY Times signed this image yesterday. Here is the proof."

Why It Matters

• Resilitence: Signatures survive "copy-paste," screenshots, and format changes.
• Discovery: You can verify content even if you received it via a secure messager or social media that strips metadata.

Key Takeaway: Signatures should live independently of the file, retrievable by content alone.

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