NC S738

Establishes the Digital Content Provenance Initiative, jointly coordinated by the Department of Commerce and Department of Information Technology, to develop cryptographic authentication standards for state-generated digital content, official communications, and election-related information

Appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Commerce effective July 1, 2025, for Phase I implementation including verification protocols, a content provenance registry, public education resources, and technology partnerships

Creates a Digital Content Provenance Advisory Board with representatives from civil liberties organizations, academia, media, cybersecurity experts, and the technology industry to advise on standards, privacy safeguards, and implementation

Directs alignment with existing open technical standards including those from the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) and World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)

Requires an interim Phase I report to the General Assembly by December 1, 2025, and a final report with Phase II recommendations by March 1, 2026