Digital evidential camera system for generating alteration detection data using built-in encryption key

Claim 1

A digital image editing system for detecting an alteration of image data and editing the image data, comprising: a filing management unit for filing and managing the image data input thereto through an image input unit; an alteration detection unit for decrypting first alteration detection data attached to the image data by use of a decryption key corresponding to a first encryption key used for generating the alteration detection data, and for comparing the first alteration detection data thus decrypted with the image data thereby to detect the alteration of the image data; an image editing unit for processing the image data; and an image file updating unit for generating second alteration detection data using a second encryption key other than the first encryption key from the image data processed by the image editing unit and editing history data output by the image editing unit, and for adding the second alteration detection data to the edited image data; means for adding and storing editor authentication data read from a detachable IC card; wherein the image file updating unit is removably mounted on the digital image editing system, and has stored therein the editor authentication data and the second encryption key; and wherein the second alteration detection data is generated using the second encryption key and the editor authentication data.