What Goes Into a Signature?

There’s no single formula for a content signature. However, most viable models include some combination of the following elements:

• Content Hash: A unique fingerprint of the digital content for tamper detection.
• Generation Timestamp: When the content was created or finalized.
• Originator ID: A verifiable identifier for the AI/EI or entity responsible.
• Attestation Proof: A digital signature or public verification mechanism.
• Version Tag: A way to track updates or iterations.
• Contextual Tags: Optional metadata about tone, purpose, or compliance scope.

Signatures may also include optional or abstracted fields depending on the domain: ethical flags, licensing notes, intended audience, or symbolic content tags.

Importantly, a signature does not impose meaning—it encodes provenance. The interpretation and application of that metadata remain up to the viewer or downstream system.