Veritas is a forensic image analysis tool, specifically tailored for scientific research
Veritas is a dedicated analytical tool for the forensic analysis of scientific images, specially tailored to the needs of research institutions, scientific publishers, and ethics committees. Veritas enables reviewers to uniquely identify the origin of a photo or image using its PRNU fingerprint, thereby verifying its authenticity and the scientific integrity of medical research.
Technical workflow for integrity testing
At the heart of Veritas is a two-step process that enables reviewers to establish a fast, direct, and verifiable link between a physical recording device (e.g., a microscope camera) and the image data used or published in a scientific study.
Device registration (“enrollment”)
To certify a device in a laboratory as a reliable source, the examiner first registers it. This involves taking several reference images with the device’s camera (e.g., a Western blot scanner or a fluorescence microscope camera). Veritas uses these reference images to calculate the camera’s stable PRNU fingerprint and stores it securely. The device is then registered (“enrolled”) in the system as an authentic source of scientific image data.
Analysis and classification of image data
The examiner can then upload any images from a scientific publication or data set. Veritas compares each file with the previously created fingerprints of the registered laboratory devices. The result is a clear classification: the file was either captured by a registered device or comes from an undeclared source. This process not only enables the verification of research data but also reveals complex manipulation strategies.
Three examples of how Veritas can be used
- Validation of publications and detection of manipulation:
- Scenario: A scientific journal receives a submission with impressive results on an active ingredient. The illustrations show Western blots and microscopy images.
- Use of Veritas: The reviewer registers the cameras of the devices used by the author’s laboratory. Veritas then analyzes all submitted images. Images identified as “from registered device” are considered authentic. Images marked as “from other device” or showing inconsistent PRNU patterns indicate manipulation – e.g., copying and pasting bands from other experiments or using stock photos.
2. Detection of “paper mills” and author networks:
- Scenario: There is suspicion that several publications by different authors from different institutes are based on the same falsified data sets.
- Use of Veritas: The reviewers register the cameras of the devices from all laboratories involved. When comparing the images from the various publications, Veritas determines that images in Paper A (Author X) and Paper B (Author Y) can be traced back to exactly the same, unregistered device. This is forensic evidence of a common data source and proves the activity of a “paper mill.”
3. Retrospective forensic assessment:
- Scenario: A university receives a tip-off about potential data fraud in a doctoral thesis published years ago and widely cited. The original devices may no longer be available.
- Use of Veritas: The images contained in the thesis are checked for PRNU consistency. Veritas can determine whether all images that supposedly originate from the same series of experiments were actually taken with the same camera. Inconsistencies in the fingerprint are a strong indicator of subsequent image manipulation and can form the basis for a formal scientific misrepresentation.
Decentralized integrity assurance at the source
Veritas can be used in a decentralized manner, meaning that forensic image analysis can be carried out directly, quickly, and easily at research institutions or publishing houses. Unlike costly external expert opinions, Veritas enables immediate analysis, resulting in significant time savings. At the same time, Veritas relieves forensic specialists by serving as an efficient filter for routine checks. This scalable model makes quality assurance more agile, less dependent on bottlenecks, and ultimately more effective. Veritas thus shifts forensic authority from the central audit authority to the laboratory.
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