TRUST, BUT VERIFY
There was a time when you could take a person's word for it. Today, we rely on passwords, certificates, digital signatures, identity verification and two-factor authentication. It seems that we have never had more ways to verify authenticity – nor more reasons to doubt it.
Today, we turn the spotlight on these words.
Trust is not given lightly, and authenticity is rarely taken for granted.
Trust, but verify is one of the most famous phrases in international diplomacy. Although it originated as a Russian proverb, it gained worldwide recognition in 1986 during the Reykjavik negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union on nuclear arms reduction towards the end of the Cold War. The message was simple: cooperation is possible, but trust alone is not enough. Allegations, claims and facts must be verifiable.
Forty years later, the world finds itself confronting the same questions once again. Yet the need for verification is no longer limited to states and diplomatic agreements. Today we verify identities, documents, electronic signatures, online posts, photographs, videos and even voices. In an age when it has become increasingly easy to create convincing imitations of reality, the question of authenticity has become more important than ever.
How do we trust, but still verify?
For a long time, a handwritten signature, an official seal and a notary's certification were regarded as reliable guarantees of authenticity. Today, however, we live in a world where artificial intelligence can create a convincing video of a person saying words they never actually spoke, while online scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
Although the tools may change, the objective remains the same: to verify that a person really is who they claim to be, that a document remains in its original form, and that its contents have not been altered.
The English language has long developed a rich vocabulary for different levels of verification and authentication. The key to selecting the correct term is understanding the purpose of the verification.
- Do you want to verify whether something is correct or true? Verify.
The bank verified the customer's identity before approving the transaction.
- Do you want to confirm that something meets the criteria for use or acceptance? Validate.
Please validate your ticket before boarding the train.
- Do you want to determine whether something is genuine and remains in its original, unaltered form? Authenticate.
Experts authenticated the painting as an original work by the artist.
- Do you want someone to formally confirm or declare a particular fact? Attest.
I hereby attest that the information provided is accurate and complete.
- Do you require official confirmation from an authorised body that something (or someone) meets a particular standard? Certify.
The company has been certified according to ISO 9001 standards.
- Do you need a notary to certify a signature, statement, or contract? Notarise.
The loan agreement was notarised before the mortgage was registered.
Technology on the offensive, language on the defensive
In the digital age, authenticity has not gone out of fashion – it has simply acquired new adversaries. Technology may be creating new forms of deception faster than language can name them. Yet every new fraud, manipulation or deception is eventually given a name. And once named, it becomes easier to recognise it and harder to believe it.
So, let's get our terminology straight.
- Deepfake- AI-generated fake video, image or audio recording
- Phishing- digital scam aimed at stealing personal information
- Spoofing- digital impersonation
- Catfishing- creating a false online identity
- Ransomware- malicious software used for extortion
At a time when images can be generated, voices cloned, and documents forged within minutes, the old proverb may be more relevant than ever. Don't just take someone's word for it – trust, but verify.
This article was originally published on the Women in Adria portal on 3 July 2026. You can read it HERE.
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