Performing an operation comprising extracting a first element of encrypted data embedded in a digital recording comprising at least one of audio data and image data captured in a recording environment, generating a first decrypted value, the generating performed by execution of a cryptography algorithm based on a private key and the first element of encrypted data, comparing the first decrypted value and a stored value associated with a first element of the digital recording, and authenticating the digital recording based on the first decrypted value substantially matching the stored value.