realtrue

Realtrue is a term used in information science and digital ethics to describe claims, data, or documents that are both real in their referent and true in their evidentiary support. The concept sits at the intersection of ontology—the study of what exists—and epistemology—the study of knowledge—and is often invoked in discussions of verifiability, provenance, and trust in online content.

Origin and usage: The word is a portmanteau of real and true, popularized in debates over misinformation, data integrity, and digital identity systems. It is not a formal theory or standardized label, but rather a shorthand used by researchers, journalists, and technologists to articulate a standard of evidence that extends beyond authenticity alone.

Core features: Realtrue relies on three elements: a verifiable referent (the claim corresponds to an actual state of affairs), transparent provenance (a record of sources and alterations), and auditable evidence (independent verification or cryptographic attestations). In practice, realtrue labeling might be supported by metadata, chain-of-custody records, and cryptographic signatures.

Applications: In journalism and fact-checking, realtrue aims to separate miscaptioned or fabricated content from verifiable information. In digital identity and AI, the concept underpins methods for verifying outputs against trusted sources and tracking how data was produced and used.

Criticism: Critics warn that the term remains ambiguous and context-dependent. Definitions of “real” and “true” can vary across domains, and reliance on verification infrastructure raises concerns about gatekeeping, privacy, and the potential stifling of legitimate dissent.

See also: verifiability, authenticity, provenance, fact-checking, cryptographic signatures, verifiable credentials.