Image and Video Authentication (online)

February 4-5, 2025

0900 – 1700hrs CDT

Course Description

The Image and Video Authentication-200 Course is a 2-day intermediate course designed to give forensic video investigators, technicians, and analysts a foundational understanding of image/video authentication and enable them to perform basic authentication examinations of image and video evidence.
Students will gain foundational knowledge of signal processing and digital data analysis necessary to effectively analyze images and videos to determine authenticity. A variety of image and video sources, including DVR, cell phone, generative AI, synthetic, and deepfake media will be utilized to provide a practical application of authentication principles. Open source tools as well as Amped Authenticate and the Medex Video Authentication Platform will be featured to give students real world insights into practical use cases.

Course Objectives

● List the core concepts of media authentication
● Review fundamental structural, compression level, and generations analysis principles
● Utilize video file structure to determine authenticity of video files
● Assess metadata values for alteration/manipulation
● Investigate pixel level, block level, and source sensor analysis techniques
● Express results in an opinion based expert report

Course Details (PDF)

Prerequisites

There are no specific course prerequisites for this course. Some experience in the video forensic or computer forensics field is recommended.

Instructors

Blake Sawyer – US Operations Director, Amped Software
Blake started working at Plano Police Department in 2014, where he founded the digital media unit of their Crime Scene. He is certified as a LEVA Forensic Video Analyst and an IAI Certified Forensic Video Examiner. He has taught courses with LEVA, served on their board, and is actively involved in helping video examiners better understand the scientific workflow of Video Forensics. Currently, he is a member of the Video Subcommittee for SWGDE (Scientific Working Group for Digital Evidence) and is a member of the Video/Imaging Technology and Analysis (VITAL) subcommittee at OSAC (Organization of Scientific Area Committees). Blake joined our team at Amped Software in 2019 to help with North America with Training, Sales, and Technical Support. He currently serves as the Director of US Operations.

Brandon Epstein – Chief Forensic Officer, Medex Forensics
Brandon Epstein is the Chief Forensic Officer at Medex Forensics has and has been a digital forensic examiner since 2014. Brandon holds a Master of Science degree in Recording Arts – Emphasis Media Forensics as well as numerous digital forensic certifications, including the LEVA Forensic Video Analyst certification. He is the chair of the Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence and is a member of the IAI’s Forensic Video Certification board, IACP Cybercrime and Digital Evidence committee, the NIST/OSAC Video/Imaging Technology and Analysis Subcommittee, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Science. Brandon is also an adjunct professor in the New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Forensic Science Program.

Certificate of Attendance

Students will be issued a certificate of attendance upon successful completion of this course. While there will be practical student assignments, there will be no formal testing in the class. Both Amped Software and Medex Forensics offer independent certification programs to demonstrate proficiency in the materials presented in this course; students are eligible to participate in either or both of those certification programs.

Tuition

$750USD

Unless otherwise arranged with LEVA, students accepted to attend must pay the course fee 30days before the first day of class. Payment options are check, credit card (Visa, Mastercard and American Express only).

LEVA PAYMENT / REFUND POLICY

Registration

Minimum Computer Requirements

● Intel i5 Processor
● 8GB RAM
● Current Chrome browser
● Broadband internet connection
● Ability to install provided Amped Authenticate software (file size less than 1 GB)
● NOTE: A secondary monitor is strongly recommended for participation

Disclaimer

Graduates of the course receive a LEVA certificate indicating successful completion of the 16-hour curriculum. That certificate should NOT be interpreted as a certification of any type. Registering for any LEVA class indicates they fully understand they are not receiving any certification from any one LEVA course and must refer to this training as LEVA’s on their resume, CV or any discoverable document. This class is not conducted to officially endorse any product or service.

Additional Information

For additional information regarding this course, contact Troy Lawrence, LEVA Deputy Executive Director, troy.lawrence@leva.org.