Which method can authenticate a photograph or document?

Which method can authenticate a photograph or document?

• A. Establishing its origin with a witness and foundation
• B. A witness's opinion about its origin
• C. Hearsay evidence
• D. A trade secret

Answer: (A)

Authentication means proving the item is what it claims to be. A solid way to do this for a photograph or document is to establish its origin with a witness and lay the necessary foundation—have someone testify about where it came from, who created or handled it, and how it has been kept or transmitted. This shows the chain of custody and the source, making the item trustworthy as the genuine article. Relying only on a witness’s opinion about its origin isn’t itself enough to authenticate, and hearsay isn’t the method used to prove authenticity. A trade secret is irrelevant to whether the item is authentic.

Authentication means proving the item is what it claims to be. A solid way to do this for a photograph or document is to establish its origin with a witness and lay the necessary foundation—have someone testify about where it came from, who created or handled it, and how it has been kept or transmitted. This shows the chain of custody and the source, making the item trustworthy as the genuine article. Relying only on a witness’s opinion about its origin isn’t itself enough to authenticate, and hearsay isn’t the method used to prove authenticity. A trade secret is irrelevant to whether the item is authentic.