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How to verify evidence (Proof ID & ZIP)

In short: verification shows whether the evidence is still identical to the original capture — or if it was modified.

Verification is designed to answer one precise question: Has this evidence been changed since it was created?

Tutorial Verification Proof ID Evidence ZIP ~4 min read
Quick overview

You can verify evidence in two ways: by Proof ID (online) or by Evidence ZIP (online or offline). Results are deterministic: Match or Modified.

1) What verification means
What it checks (and doesn’t)
2) Verify Proof ID
Online verification
3) Verify Evidence ZIP
Online or offline
4) Match vs Modified
How to interpret

What verification means

Verification is intentionally simple: it checks whether evidence is identical to the original captured record. It does not judge truthfulness or who is right — it verifies integrity.

If someone edits the screenshot, changes extracted text, replaces a file, or alters ZIP structure, verification will detect that the evidence differs from the original capture.

Method 1 — Verify a Proof ID (online)

A Proof ID is a permanent identifier for a captured URL record. Anyone with the Proof ID (or proof link) can verify it online.

  1. Open the verifier page.
  2. Paste the Proof ID (or open the proof link).
  3. Review the result.
Open verification

Use the public verifier to check a Proof ID or upload an Evidence ZIP.

Open verifier → Example proof →

Method 2 — Verify an Evidence ZIP (online or offline)

Evidence ZIP verification is designed for sharing and long-term archiving. The ZIP includes a cryptographic manifest listing files and their SHA-256 hashes.

That means ZIP verification is not dependent on GetProofAnchor: integrity can be verified later using independent tools or workflows — even without access to your GPA account.

What makes ZIP verification strict
  • editing extracted text will fail verification
  • modifying a screenshot will fail verification
  • replacing, renaming, removing, or re-zipping files will fail verification
  • changing ZIP structure or manifest will fail verification

How to interpret results

Results are intentionally deterministic: Match means evidence is identical to the original record. Modified means the evidence differs.

If you see Modified, review the details to identify which file(s) mismatch. This is usually enough to show that the package is not the original exported evidence.

What verification does not do

  • It does not assess truthfulness.
  • It does not replace legal counsel.
  • It does not decide admissibility — authorities and jurisdiction do.

Verification only answers: “Is this evidence original and unchanged?”

Next tutorial

Continue with: Evidence ZIP explained (what’s inside).

Open verifier → Create proof →

Not legal advice. Admissibility depends on jurisdiction and circumstances.