Live Stream Moderation
SDK
Below is a PHP SDK containing an example integration to make it easier and faster to get ready to moderate your content:
VerifyMyContent Content Moderation PHP SDK
Postman Workspace
We've created a Postman workspace specifically for our API, which contains example API calls that you can use to test and familiarise yourself with our API.
The workspace includes example API calls for each of our API endpoints, along with detailed descriptions of the request parameters and headers being used.
You can generate most of the client code to call our APIs using the Postman client code generator. With this feature, developers can select a range of programming languages, and generate the corresponding code with a few clicks.
Please note that while both the example API calls and the generated code can be a helpful starting point, it's important to thoroughly test your own API calls before deploying them in production. If you encounter any issues while using the example API calls, or if you have any questions about our API, please don't hesitate to reach out to our support team.
API Domain
Our API is designed to be used in two environments: a sandbox environment and a production environment.
The sandbox environment is intended for testing and development purposes, while the production environment is used for live data and real-world use cases.
To ensure the security and integrity of our API, we use separate API keys for each environment. This means that you will need to obtain different API keys for the sandbox and production environments, and should not use the same key for both.
Domain | Environment |
---|---|
https://moderation.verifymycontent.com | production |
https://moderation.sandbox.verifymycontent.com | sandbox |
Generating the HMAC header
To improve the security of the communication between your implementation and the VerifyMyContent API, we require you to generate a unique hexadecimal encoded SHA256 HMAC hash for each request, based on the input parameters.
The process of generating it depends on the language of your implementation.
If you use our SDK, the HMAC step will be abstracted,
and you don't need to do anything related to it.
Integration Steps
Our content moderation system is fully automated and requires no manual intervention or input from the user. The moderation process is performed entirely in the backend using browser automation technology allowing us to analyse and filter content at scale. When content is submitted for moderation, our system ingests it automatically and analyses it using a combination of machine learning algorithms and human-defined rules. The system then applies a series of filters to identify any content that violates our guidelines.
VerifyMyContent live stream moderation consists of 4 basic steps:
1st
Verifying the participants in the broadcast.
2nd
Account ownership confirmation.
3rd
Starting the broadcast.
4th
Moderating the broadcast itself.
1. Verifying the Participants
This comes before calling the live stream API where the participants of the broadcast must complete an Identity Verification or log in to their VerifyMyContent account.
The identity verification process is done only once, so you can add it to your sign-up process, for example. A simple sign-in is then used to start future broadcasts.
You will need to send the customer who started the live stream in the field “customer”, this customer is required.
This unique identifier will then be used in subsequent steps.
New: More participants can be added to a live stream.
2. Account Ownership Confirmation
Every time your users start a live stream, they will need to log in to VerifyMyContent to confirm ownership of their account through a face match.
On this endpoint, you will need to send the same customer.id that was sent in the previous step, for the customer.id field.
Authorization Header
Generate HMAC with: Request BodyAuthorization: hmac YOUR-API-KEY:GENERATED-HMAC
Request parameters
external_id required
The unique identifier you send to correlate with the moderation.
embed_url required
The URL where VerifyMyContent can watch the stream without an account on your site.
Important: Make sure this URL doesn't have any popups and/or ads that will overlap the video that will be watched by our moderation team.
title optional
The title of the content being moderated.
description optional
The text written by your customer to describe the content.
webhook required
The URL where we will post status updates on the moderation.
stream required
The technology used by the Livestream.
protocol optional
One of rtmps, hls or webrtc.
url optional
We must always have access to the stream url.
Therefore, if your stream is private and depends on login using a username and password we must have access via a secret or signed url. Important: If you're struggling with this step, you can head to the troubleshooting section for more guidance.
The URL pointing to your stream has different validation rules based on the protocol you are using:
RTMPS Example: rmtps://example.com:5443
HLS It must point to an m3u8 file where we'll be able to retrieve the stream. Example: https://example.com/file.m3u8
WebRTC It must point to an embedded version of the stream. Example: https://example.com/embed-url
rule optional
It can be one of the values:
Rule | Description |
---|---|
default | It will look for content that is not allowed in the context of adult websites. This is also the default option when you don't send any value. |
no-nudity | It will look for both content not allowed in the context of adult websites, but will also look for nudity. |
customer required
Customer information
id required
Customer's unique ID
email required
Customer's email address
phone optional
Customer's phone number
participants optional
Information about other participants of the livestream.
Type: Array of customers
id required
Customer's unique ID
email required
Customer's email address
phone optional
Customer's phone number
type optional
It can be one of these values. It defaults to moderation.
Type | Description |
---|---|
moderation | We will look for any illegal harmful content. This is also the default option when you don’t send any value. |
face-match | We will look to see if the expected people are present in the content. |
combined | We will look for any illegal harmful content and to see if the expected people are present in the content via face-match. |
Response parameters
id
The unique identifier generated by the VerifyMyContent API.
login_url
The URL you’ll need to redirect the user to confirm ownership.
external_id
The unique identifier you send to correlate with the moderation.
status
The current status of the moderation flow. It will change depending on the step of the live stream moderation.
Account Ownership Confirmation
Status | Description |
---|---|
Waiting | Waiting for the model/s to prove their identity |
Authorised | The model/s could prove their identity. You can start the stream |
Denied | The model/s could not prove their identity, so you cannot start the stream |
Moderating the content
Status | Description |
---|---|
Started | The moderation process has started to detect any illegal or non-consensual content |
Finished | The live stream has ended and no issues were found |
Stop Requested | Illegal content found, you need to stop the live stream |
Halted | The livestream has ended due to illegal content being found |
Failed | An error occurred during the processing of the live stream |
Pause live stream
Status | Description |
---|---|
Pause Requested | The live stream was requested to be paused |
Paused | The moderation process has paused |
Resume Requested | The live stream was requested to be resumed |
Resumed | The moderation process has been resumed |
Finished due to Inactivity | The moderation was stopped after being paused for too long (10+ hours) |
notes
Any notes associated with the moderation when the moderation status is Failed or Stop Requested.
tags
Any tags associated with the moderation when the moderation status is Stop Requested.
created_at
The date and time in the UTC timezone when the livestream was created
updated_at
The date and time in the UTC timezone when the livestream was updated
type
It can be one of these values. It defaults to moderation.
Type | Description |
---|---|
moderation | We will look for any illegal harmful content. This is also the default option when you don’t send any value. |
face-match | We will look to see if the expected people are present in the content. |
combined | We will look for any illegal harmful content and to see if the expected people are present in the content via face-match. |
Error responses
Code | Description |
---|---|
400 |
|
400 |
|
401 |
|
422 |
|
500 |
|
POST /api/v1/livestream HTTP/1.1
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: hmac YOUR-API-KEY:GENERATE-HMAC-WITH-REQUEST-BODY
{
"external_id": "YOUR-LIVESTREAM-ID",
"embed_url": "https://example.com/live-stream-embed",
"title": "Your title",
"description": "Your description",
"stream": {
"protocol": "rtmps",
"url": "rtmps://your-server:443/your-video-stream"
},
"rule": "default",
"customer": {
"id": "YOUR-USER-ID",
"email": "person@example.com",
"phone": "+4412345678"
},
"participants": [
{
"id": "YOUR-PARTICIPANT-ID",
"email": "person2@example.com",
"phone": "+4412345678"
}
],
"webhook": "https://example.com/webhook",
"type": "moderation",
}
{ "id": "ABC-123-5678-ABC", "login_url": "https://app.verifymycontent.com/v/ABC-123-5678-ABC", "external_id": "YOUR-CORRELATION-ID", "status": "Started", "notes": "Harmful content found.", "rule": "default", "tags": [ "UNDERAGE" ], "created_at": "2020-11-12 19:06:00", "updated_at": "2020-11-12 19:06:00", "type": "moderation" }
3. Starting the Broadcast
When the broadcast starts on your side, you'll need to notify us, so we can start moderating the content. To do so you'll have to use the live stream ID returned on the previous API call and send a PATCH request to us.
Note: you'll need to send this request within 5 minutes from the point you receive the webhook notifying you the user was authorised to start the broadcast.
Important: request parameters will only be optional if you have already provided them on the Account Ownership Confirmation step. If not, request parameters will be required.
Authorization Header
Generate HMAC with: Request BodyAuthorization: hmac YOUR-API-KEY:GENERATED-HMAC
Request parameters
embed_url optional
The URL where VerifyMyContent can watch the stream without an account on your site.
Important: Make sure this URL doesn't have any popups and/or ads that will overlap the video that will be watched by our moderation team.
stream optional
The technology used by the Livestream.
protocol optional
One of rtmps, hls or webrtc.
url optional
We must always have access to the stream url.
Therefore, if your stream is private and depends on login using a username and password we must have access via a secret or signed url. Important: If you're struggling with this step, you can head to the troubleshooting section for more guidance.
The URL pointing to your stream has different validation rules based on the protocol you are using:
RTMPS Example: rmtps://example.com:5443
HLS It must point to an m3u8 file where we'll be able to retrieve the stream. Example: https://example.com/file.m3u8
WebRTC It must point to an embedded version of the stream. Example: https://example.com/embed-url
Error responses
Code | Description |
---|---|
401 |
|
404 |
|
500 |
|
PATCH /api/v1/livestream/{ID}/start HTTP/1.1
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: hmac YOUR-API-KEY:GENERATE-HMAC-WITH-REQUEST-URI
{
"embed_url": "https://example.com/live-stream-embed",
"stream": {
"protocol": "rtmps",
"url": "rtmps://your-server:443/your-video-stream"
}
}
4. Moderating the Content
During the broadcast, our AI and moderation team will be monitoring the video looking for content that cannot be streamed. In this case, you’ll receive a webhook in one of 3 situations:
-
When the user finishes the login step:
a. We’ll notify you with the Authorised status if all the users (customer + participants) can prove account ownership, only after all users complete a successful validation, you can start broadcasting the live stream at this moment.
b. Otherwise, we’ll notify you of the Denied status and the broadcast cannot start.
- When there is non-permissible content, we’ll notify you with a Stop Requested status so you can take action.
- When the live stream ends with an Finished status.
We’ll send the same JSON as the Request body of the webhook that we return as the Response Body when you start a live stream.
In the same way that you send an HMAC header during the requests, we’ll be sending it to your webhook so you can confirm that we have sent the request.
Response
You’ll need to return any of the 200, 201, or 204 status codes.
Any different status code will be interpreted as you couldn’t handle the webhook, and we’ll try 3 more times in the proceeding minutes.
Authorization Header
Generate HMAC with: Request BodyAuthorization: hmac YOUR-API-KEY:GENERATED-HMAC
Request parameters
id
The unique identifier generated by the VerifyMyContent API.
login_url
The URL you’ll need to redirect the user to confirm ownership.
external_id
The unique identifier you send to correlate with the moderation.
status
The current status of the moderation flow. It will change depending on the step of the live stream moderation.
Account Ownership Confirmation
Status | Description |
---|---|
Waiting | Waiting for the model/s to prove their identity |
Authorised | The model/s could prove their identity. You can start the stream |
Denied | The model/s could not prove their identity, so you cannot start the stream |
Moderating the content
Status | Description |
---|---|
Started | The moderation process has started to detect any illegal or non-consensual content |
Finished | The live stream has ended and no issues were found |
Stop Requested | Illegal content found, you need to stop the live stream |
Halted | The livestream has ended due to illegal content being found |
Failed | An error occurred during the processing of the live stream |
Pause live stream
Status | Description |
---|---|
Pause Requested | The live stream was requested to be paused |
Paused | The moderation process has paused |
Resume Requested | The live stream was requested to be resumed |
Resumed | The moderation process has been resumed |
Finished due to Inactivity | The moderation was stopped after being paused for too long (10+ hours) |
notes
Any notes associated with the moderation when the moderation status is Failed or Stop Requested.
tags
Any tags associated with the moderation when the moderation status is Stop Requested.
created_at
The date and time in the UTC timezone when the livestream was created
updated_at
The date and time in the UTC timezone when the livestream was updated
type
It can be one of these values. It defaults to moderation.
Type | Description |
---|---|
moderation | We will look for any illegal harmful content. This is also the default option when you don’t send any value. |
face-match | We will look to see if the expected people are present in the content. |
combined | We will look for any illegal harmful content and to see if the expected people are present in the content via face-match. |
POST /your-path HTTP/1.1
Host: https://your-domain.com
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: hmac YOUR-API-KEY:GENERATE-HMAC-WITH-REQUEST-BODY
{
"id": "ABC-123-5678-ABC",
"login_url": "https://app.verifymycontent.com/v/ABC-123-5678-ABC",
"external_id": "YOUR-CORRELATION-ID",
"status": "Started",
"notes": "Harmful content found.",
"tags": [
"UNDERAGE"
],
"created_at": "2020-11-12 19:06:00",
"updated_at": "2020-11-12 19:06:00",
"type": "moderation"
}
Get current status of the livestream
When you already have the id of a livestream you can see the current details of the livestream.
Authorization Header
Generate HMAC with: Request URIAuthorization: hmac YOUR-API-KEY:GENERATED-HMAC
Response parameters
id
Unique identifier generated by the VerifyMyContent API
title
The title of the content being moderated.
description
The text written by your customer to describe the content.
external_id
The unique identifier you have sent to correlate this livestream
status
The current status of the moderation flow. It will change depending on the step of the live stream moderation.
Account Ownership Confirmation
Status | Description |
---|---|
Waiting | Waiting for the model/s to prove their identity |
Authorised | The model/s could prove their identity. You can start the stream |
Denied | The model/s could not prove their identity, so you cannot start the stream |
Moderating the content
Status | Description |
---|---|
Started | The moderation process has started to detect any illegal or non-consensual content |
Finished | The live stream has ended and no issues were found |
Stop Requested | Illegal content found, you need to stop the live stream |
Halted | The livestream has ended due to illegal content being found |
Failed | An error occurred during the processing of the live stream |
Pause live stream
Status | Description |
---|---|
Pause Requested | The live stream was requested to be paused |
Paused | The moderation process has paused |
Resume Requested | The live stream was requested to be resumed |
Resumed | The moderation process has been resumed |
Finished due to Inactivity | The moderation was stopped after being paused for too long (10+ hours) |
notes
Any notes associated with the moderation when the moderation status is 'Failed'
tags
Any tags associated with the moderation when the moderation status is Rejected.
created_at
The date and time in the UTC timezone when the verification was created
updated_at
The date and time in the UTC timezone when the verification was updated
type
It can be one of these values. It defaults to moderation.
Type | Description |
---|---|
moderation | We will look for any illegal harmful content. This is also the default option when you don’t send any value. |
face-match | We will look to see if the expected people are present in the content. |
combined | We will look for any illegal harmful content and to see if the expected people are present in the content via face-match. |
GET /api/v1/livestream/{ID} HTTP/1.1
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: hmac YOUR-API-KEY:GENERATE-HMAC-WITH-REQUEST-URI
{ "id": "ABC-123-5678-ABC", "title": "your title", "description": "your description", "login_url": "", "external_id": "YOUR-VIDEO-ID", "status": "Started", "tags": [], "notes": "", "created_at": "2024-07-04T19:36:27Z", "updated_at": "2024-07-04T19:36:47Z", "type": "moderation" }
Updating Live Stream moderation rules
This endpoint allows you to update the moderation rules for a specific live stream. By default, all live streams are moderated using a set of predefined rules that are designed to minimize the risk of harmful or offensive content being broadcast to viewers. However, there may be cases where you need to include aditional rules to suit your business requirements.
Example: You can create a livestream with the 'no-nudity' rule, but after a couple of minutes, send a PATCH request to change it to the 'default' rules depending on the privacy level of this broacast.
Authorization Header
Generate HMAC with: Request BodyAuthorization: hmac YOUR-API-KEY:GENERATED-HMAC
Request parameters
rule required
It can be one of the values:
Rule | Description |
---|---|
default | It will look for content that is not allowed in the context of adult websites. This is also the default option when you don't send any value. |
no-nudity | It will look for both content not allowed in the context of adult websites, but will also look for nudity. |
Error responses
Code | Description |
---|---|
400 |
|
401 |
|
404 |
|
500 |
|
PATCH /api/v1/livestream/{ID}/rule HTTP/1.1
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: hmac YOUR-API-KEY:GENERATE-HMAC-WITH-REQUEST-BODY
{
"rule": "default"
}
Pausing Live Stream moderation
This endpoint allows you to pause the moderation for a specific live stream.
Note: the status has to be either started or resumed to pause a live stream.
Example: If your live stream has a pause feature, use this endpoint to pause the moderation until the live stream resumes.
Authorization Header
Generate HMAC with: Request BodyAuthorization: hmac YOUR-API-KEY:GENERATED-HMAC
Request parameters
id required
The ID of the Live stream to be paused.
Error responses
Code | Description |
---|---|
401 |
|
404 |
|
500 |
|
PATCH /api/v1/livestream/{ID}/pause HTTP/1.1
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: hmac YOUR-API-KEY:GENERATE-HMAC-WITH-REQUEST-URI
Resuming Live Stream moderation
This endpoint allows you to resume the moderation for a specific live stream.
Note: the status has to be paused to resume a live stream
Authorization Header
Generate HMAC with: Request URIAuthorization: hmac YOUR-API-KEY:GENERATED-HMAC
Request parameters
id required
The ID of the live stream to be resumed.
Error responses
Code | Description |
---|---|
401 |
|
404 |
|
500 |
|
PATCH /api/v1/livestream/{ID}/resume HTTP/1.1
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: hmac YOUR-API-KEY:GENERATE-HMAC-WITH-REQUEST-URI
Troubleshooting
The video on my website can only be viewed by a logged-in user
For our AI and team of Moderators to be able to watch your videos, you'll need to provide us with a URL that can be accessed without a username and password.
To do this, you can use a signed URL that will skip your default authentication system whilst still restricting access and keeping the URL secure.
When you sign an URL, it adds new query parameters to the original URL. One of them will be a signature generated based on the URL and a secret only your website will have. This way, only your website could generate and validate it later.
Some frameworks like Laravel already provide helper functions for you to sign a url.
We've created an example of an express.js application that signs and validates a URL using the signed-url npm package in the following repository: https://github.com/verifymycontent/sign-url-example.