This FAQ does not constitute legal advice. The legal validity of evidence generated by HashCam may vary depending on your jurisdiction, the specific circumstances, and the court or authority involved. For personalised advice, please always consult a lawyer qualified in your jurisdiction.
1. What is HashCam?
HashCam is a mobile app that lets you capture photos or videos and instantly generate a blockchain-anchored timestamp certificate. It proves that a specific file existed at a specific time—without uploading your content anywhere.
2. Does HashCam store my photos or videos?
No. HashCam never accesses or uploads your files. Your media stays on your phone. The only thing HashCam processes is a cryptographic fingerprint, called a hash, generated locally on your device.
3. What is a digital timestamp certificate?
It’s a downloadable PDF that shows:
• The hash of your file
• The exact UTC timestamp
• A link to a public Ethereum blockchain record It serves as a digital proof that your file existed in its current form at that time.
4. Can a HashCam certificate be used in court?
Yes, under Belgian law, it can support your claim as “beginning of proof” (“commencement de preuve par écrit”). However, courts have full discretion to assess the probative value of blockchain timestamps. If full written proof isn’t available or required, judges may accept reliable digital traces, especially if they:
• Link to the originator (you); and
• Haven’t been altered (integrity).
HashCam’s certificate helps meet those conditions. But it’s not sufficient alone, you will often need supporting context or documentation. The judge retains sovereign appreciation (“appréciation souveraine”) of evidence at all times.
Please note that the evidentiary value of blockchain timestamps may vary by country and court. This FAQ is tailored primarily to Belgian law and may not reflect legal practice elsewhere.
5. Does HashCam create a legally binding timestamp under EU law?
No. HashCam does not provide a qualified electronic timestamp under eIDAS Regulation (EU 910/2014).
HashCam provides a technical timestamp, based on a hash recorded on Ethereum. This may serve as factual evidence, but it is not equivalent to a regulated trust service.
Emerging regulations such as eIDAS 2.0 may broaden the scope of qualified trust services to include decentralized technologies like blockchain. We monitor these developments closely.
6. Is HashCam a notary or regulated trust service?
No. HashCam is not a notary and is not accredited as a qualified trust service provider (QTSP) under EU law. We do not offer legal certification.
We provide a decentralised technical timestamp, not a legally qualified electronic time-stamp.
7. What does Belgian law say about this kind of evidence?
Belgian courts allow “any writing that makes the alleged fact plausible.” (Art. 1347 (old) → Art. 8.13 (new); see Art. 8.12 for impossibility.).
Digital traces like HashCam’s certificate can be used if:
• You can show where they came from (Apple ID, device use);
• Their integrity can be verified (unchanged hash);
• The method used (HashCam) is deemed trustworthy under the circumstances.
8. Is my personal data visible on the blockchain?
No. Your media and personal data are never uploaded. The blockchain only contains the file’s hash (a long string of characters that cannot be reversed into the original).
While no personal data is stored on the blockchain, HashCam processes minimal personal data locally or via its backend as described in our Privacy Policy. Please review it to understand your rights under GDPR.
9. What do I need to keep to prove my claim?
• Your original media file (exact, unchanged);
• The PDF certificate you downloaded at the time.
If either is missing or changed, the hash won't match and verification will fail. Users are responsible for securely storing both. HashCam does not retain copies of your files or certificates. We recommend regular backups and secure storage.
10. Can the certificate be forged?
Not easily. The hash is generated using SHA-256 (used by banks and government encryption). Even one-pixel changes in the file make a totally different hash.
The certificate includes a blockchain link. Anyone can verify it, instantly and independently.
HashCam verifies the integrity of a file at timestamping but does not verify the file’s original authenticity or content validity. Users should be aware that fraudulent or manipulated content can still be timestamped.
11. How can someone verify my file?
1. Recompute the hash of your file (using any SHA-256 calculator);
2. Compare it to the one in the certificate;
3. Check the blockchain record (Ethereum link in the PDF).
If all three match, your proof stands.
You (or any third party) can later verify a certificate by dropping the original media file on our browser-based verifier at https://hashcam.io/verify/. The hash is calculated locally in your browser and compared with the hash stored on our public smart contract; no copy of the media is uploaded or retained during this check.
To verify your file’s hash, you can also use any trusted SHA-256 calculator available online or as an app. For convenience, we recommend using free, reputable tools such as:
• https://md5file.com/calculator
• https://passwordsgenerator.net/sha256-hash-generator/
• Open-source desktop tools like ‘HashCalc’ or ‘7-Zip’ (Windows) and ‘shasum’ command (Mac/Linux).
To check the blockchain timestamp, open the transaction link provided in your certificate using Etherscan or a similar Ethereum blockchain explorer.
12. Is HashCam approved by any public authority?
No. HashCam is a private tool, not a regulated service. It uses open technology to help you document events in a trustworthy way.
We make no claim of legal certification.
13. Do I still need other evidence?
Usually yes. A timestamp shows that a file existed. It doesn’t show what happened, who was there, or what it means.
HashCam is best used as part of a broader evidence file. In many cases, such certificates are only a starting point (‘beginning of proof’) and must be supported by additional evidence such as witness statements, metadata, or related documentation.
14. Can I use this for insurance, legal, or IP purposes?
Yes — many users apply it to:
• Insurance claims (e.g. storm damage)
• IP protection (e.g. proving copyright authorship)
• Citizen reporting (e.g. public works)
• Proof of presence, creation, or delivery
Before relying on HashCam certificates in legal, insurance, or IP disputes, verify with the relevant parties whether such evidence is accepted or requires additional proof. We also advise to review this with the lawyer in your jurisdiction.
15. Where can I learn more about the legal value of blockchain timestamps?
You can consult:
• Belgian Civil Code, Book 8
• eIDAS Regulation (EU No 910/2014)
• Legal blogs or academic papers on “digital evidence” and “blockchain notarisation”
16. Will a court outside Belgium accept my certificate?
Rules differ. Most jurisdictions treat blockchain time-stamps as prima facie or corroborative evidence, but standards of authenticity and chain-of-custody vary. Always obtain local legal advice.
17. Can I erase my hash from the blockchain under GDPR?
No. Once a hash is published on Ethereum it is technically immutable. Because the hash alone cannot reveal personal data, the ‘right to be forgotten’ normally does not apply.
18. What happens if Ethereum forks or becomes unavailable?
The certificate contains the block-number and chain-ID. Even if Ethereum forks, those parameters allow an expert to locate the original record. Multiple public archives mirror historical blocks.
19. Does HashCam include GPS or EXIF metadata?
By default HashCam hashes the raw file exactly as created by your camera, including any GPS/EXIF tags your device stored. Courts may view such metadata as additional corroboration, but its reliability can still be challenged.
20. What if my phone’s clock is wrong or has been tampered with?
HashCam records the exact time your device reports and the Ethereum block-time. If your local clock is inaccurate, the certificate will reflect that error. For critical matters, keep automatic time-sync enabled and consider an external time-check to corroborate the HashCam time-stamp.
For further questions, support, or inquiries, please contact hello@hashcam.io or visit our website.
For personalised legal advice, consult a qualified lawyer in your jurisdiction.
© 2025 Impact Makers BV. This FAQ is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
