Thrilled to share that AuthentiMark has received a €3.2 million research grant through the KIC Mission Digital Identities programme of Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). AuthentiMark is a broad consortium bringing together researchers across disciplines and partners from key sectors including government, healthcare, and the financial sector. The project is led by myself, together with Prof. Dr. Guda van Noort, and Prof. Dr. Christian Burgers at the Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR), University of Amsterdam.
Combating online impersonation
Online impersonation (where organizations or individuals credibly pose as others) plays a central role in misinformation campaigns, phishing, and fraud. It can make false messages seem trustworthy, damage reputations, and lead to financial loss and safety risks. These harms undermine digital security and trust, with direct consequences across sectors such as healthcare, banking, and the public sector.
AuthentiMark develops innovative digital watermarking technology to authenticate online content and distinguish genuine sources from impersonation. The goal is to make online deception easier to detect and fraud easier to prevent. As noted by consortium partner Oscar Covers of the Dutch Banking Association (NVB): “This is exactly the kind of innovation the Netherlands needs right now: practical, scalable, and directly applicable in sectors where trust is crucial.”
Digital innovation, tested in real practice
AuthentiMark combines technical innovation with research on real-world use, acceptance, and support. The project will not only develop new digital watermarks, but also study how organizations can implement them, and how citizens can use clearer authenticity signals in everyday digital decisions (from adolescents to older adults). Consortium partner Hugo Smits of Verify states: “AuthentiMark is exactly what we need: technical innovation that truly takes hold in practice. With our AI-driven expertise in digital watermarking technology, Verify is pleased to contribute to a scalable approach that ensures trustworthy digital content remains recognizable—especially as online AI-driven impersonation increases.”
Why this project is needed now
AuthentiMark focuses on strengthening digital resilience by:
• authenticating digital content through watermarking technology;
• collaborating with practice partners in technology and policy;
• researching adoption within organizations and among end users;
• supporting digital skills and increasing trust in legitimate sources.
About AuthentiMark
AuthentiMark is an interdisciplinary project, connecting three leading institutes: ASCoR (University of Amsterdam), the Interdisciplinary Hub for Digitalization and Society (iHUB) at Radboud University Nijmegen, and Digital Health at Amsterdam UMC. Together with experts from policy and practice, we aim to build a scalable approach that makes trustworthy digital sources recognizable—from government and healthcare to the financial sector.
Principal Investigators
• Prof. Dr. Jessica Piotrowski (University of Amsterdam)
• Prof. Dr. Guda van Noort (University of Amsterdam)
• Prof. Dr. Christian Burgers (University of Amsterdam)
Co-applicants
• Prof. Dr. Bart Jacobs (Radboud University Nijmegen)
• Dr. Hanna Schraffenberger (Radboud University Nijmegen)
• Prof. Dr. Marlies Schijven (Amsterdam UMC)
• Dr. Hilde Voorveld (University of Amsterdam)
• Dr. Sandra Jacobs (University of Amsterdam)
• Prof. Dr. Ulrike Klinger (University of Amsterdam)
Co-financiers
• Verify
• Dutch Banking Association (NVB)
• Yivi B.V. (part of Caesar Groep)
• Royal KPN N.V.
• Microsoft Nederland
• ING Bank
• Gemeente Amsterdam
• Gemeente Alkmaar
• Gemeente Purmerend
• GGD Amsterdam
• Profound-IT
• Nationaal Ouderenfonds
Collaboration Partners
• Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties
• Dienst Publiek en Communicatie (DPC), Ministerie van Algemene Zaken
• Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten (VNG)
• SURF
• Fraudehelpdesk
• Nederlands Jeugdinstituut
• Fides
• Stichting Privacy by Design (PubHubs)
• Noord-Holland Samen Veilig
• Politie
• KB Nationale Bibliotheek
• Stichting Beeld en Geluid