HMGCC Co-Creation Challenge: Geolocation and Detection of Deepfakes from Photos

Summary of Challenge

Tools to geolocate and detect deepfakes in photos are the focus of the latest HMGCC Co-Creation challenge now open for applications.

Organisations are being invited to apply for a 12-week challenge aimed at researching potential tools and their effectiveness.

Photo analysis is important to national security for example in a hostage situation, when images are scrutinised for clues to proof of life and location. Continuing developments in doctored photos and deepfakes have made this more challenging.

This project will be centred around two workstreams:

Test commercial photo geolocation tools, explaining how they work. The bulk of the work is expected in this workstream.
Conduct deepfake red/blue team testing.

Organisations are encouraged to collaborate and form consortia for these workstreams, particularly for red/blue team testing. Increased funding is available for these collaborations.

Context of Challenge

National security investigates images of concern, including those related to kidnappings, conflicts, suspected crimes, terrorist activity, and disinformation deepfakes. Photos are analysed to identify perpetrators and the location of the offence.

The Gap

Although AI tools can help geolocate where a photo was taken using features within the image such as trees or vehicles, these black box style tools don’t provide the reasoning of why a conclusion has been reached. Any checks are also being carried out against a backdrop of major advances in deepfake technology – making this work even more challenging.

Dates

Competition opens: Monday 22 September 2025
Briefing Call: Tuesday 7 October 2025 at 10am
Clarifying questions published: Friday 10 October 2025
Competition closes: Thursday 23 October 2025 at 5pm
Applicant notified: Tuesday 4 November 2025
Pitch day in Milton Keynes: Tuesday 11 November 2025
Pitch day outcome: Wednesday 12 November 2025
Commercial onboarding begins*: Friday 14 November 2025
Target project kick-off: Monday 1 December 2025

*Please note, the successful solution provider will be expected to have availability for a one hour onboarding call via MS Teams on the date specified to begin the onboarding/contractual process.

Eligibility

This challenge is open to sole innovators, industry, academic and research organisations of all types and sizes. There is no requirement for security clearances.

Solution providers or direct collaboration from countries listed by the UK government under trade sanctions and/or arms embargoes, are not eligible for HMGCC Co-Creation challenges.

How to Apply

Please submit your application on the HMGCC website. Any queries please email cocreation@hmgcc.gov.uk.

All information you provide to us as part of your proposal will be handled in confidence.

Applications must be no more than six pages or six slides in length. HMGCC Co-Creation reserve the right to stop reading after 6 pages if this limit is breached. The page/slide limit excludes title pages, references, personnel CVs and organisational profiles.

There is no prescribed application format, however, please ensure your application includes the following:

Applicant details: Contact name, organisation details, and registration number
Scope: Describe how the project aligns to the challenge scope
Innovation: Describe the innovation and technology intended to be delivered in the project, along with new IP that will be generated or existing IP that can be used
Deliverables: Describe the project outcomes and their impact
Timescale: Detail how a minimum viable product will be achieved within the project duration
Budget: Provide project finances against deliverables within the project duration
Team: Key personnel CVs and expertise, organisational profile if applicable

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