Meaning
Technical properties of a record-keeping system ensure that the date and time assigned to a specific entry cannot be modified after the fact. This timestamp unalterability provides the chronological certainty required to prove the priority of one claim over another. It relies on hashing algorithms or distributed ledger technology to lock the time of a transaction into a sequence.
The property holds only as long as the underlying system remains resistant to unauthorized administrative access.
Verification Logic
Forensic auditors look for this feature when determining the validity of backdated documents or disputed agreements. In a situation where timestamp unalterability is guaranteed, the record stands as a neutral witness to the sequence of events. This eliminates the possibility of a party rewriting history to gain an advantage in a legal dispute.
It transforms a simple log into a reliable piece of evidence.
Systemic Integrity
Implementation of this standard requires a departure from traditional databases where a system administrator can edit any field. A system featuring timestamp unalterability records every change as a new entry rather than an overwrite of the old data. This creates a permanent trail that documents the evolution of a file.
Proof Capacity
Verified data confirms the event time.
