Run a Video Compliance Check

End-to-end in 2 minutes: get an API key, upload a video, get back timestamped findings.

This walks through the video endpoint (POST /v1/compliance/check-video) — the primary ZebraTruth product. For image or text compliance, see Other Content Types.

1. Get your API key

export ZEBRATRUTH_API_KEY=zt_live_your_key_here

Test keys (zt_test_...) return deterministic sandbox responses with no credit cost. Use them for development and integration testing.

2. Validate your key

curl https://api.zebratruth.ai/v1/whoami \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ZEBRATRUTH_API_KEY"

Response

{
  "tenantId": "kp_a269d9695f734329a216669410731a21",
  "tier": "pro",
  "authType": "apikey",
  "scopes": ["compliance:check", "agents:*", "reports:read", "policies:read"]
}

3. Request a video upload URL

The video pipeline is fully server-side. No client-side ffmpeg, no preprocessing — your client just gets a signed upload URL, PUTs the bytes, and submits.

curl -X POST https://api.zebratruth.ai/v1/compliance/media/upload-url \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ZEBRATRUTH_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"contentType": "video/mp4"}'

Response

{
  "uploadUrl": "https://studio2.blob.core.windows.net/videos/...?sv=...&sig=...",
  "blobPath": "videos/<tenantId>/<requestId>/source.mp4",
  "requestId": "319b5d9e-a67f-45ee-9789-d7384fd73a3e",
  "requiredTags": { "tenantId": "...", "requestId": "...", "kind": "video" },
  "maxSizeBytes": 209715200,
  "uploadInstructions": {
    "method": "PUT",
    "headers": {
      "x-ms-blob-type": "BlockBlob",
      "x-ms-tags": "tenantId=...&requestId=...&kind=video",
      "Content-Type": "video/mp4"
    }
  }
}

Save the requestId + blobPath — you’ll need them in step 5.

4. Upload the video

PUT the video bytes directly to the uploadUrl from step 3. Use exactly the headers in uploadInstructions.headers:

curl -X PUT "$UPLOAD_URL" \
  -H "x-ms-blob-type: BlockBlob" \
  -H "x-ms-tags: $X_MS_TAGS" \
  -H "Content-Type: video/mp4" \
  --data-binary @your-ad.mp4

The upload bypasses ZebraTruth servers — bytes go directly to managed blob storage. Max 200 MB.

5. Submit for compliance analysis

curl -X POST https://api.zebratruth.ai/v1/compliance/check-video \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ZEBRATRUTH_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "requestId": "319b5d9e-a67f-45ee-9789-d7384fd73a3e",
    "blobPath": "videos/<tenantId>/<requestId>/source.mp4",
    "jurisdictions": ["us", "eu"],
    "platforms": ["tiktok", "youtube"],
    "mode": "fast"
  }'

Response (HTTP 202)

{
  "jobId": "319b5d9e-a67f-45ee-9789-d7384fd73a3e",
  "status": "queued",
  "estimatedCredits": 300
}

You’ll get back a 202 Accepted immediately with estimatedCredits reserved. The pipeline runs server-side — no client preprocessing required.

6. Poll for the report

curl https://api.zebratruth.ai/v1/compliance/check-video/319b5d9e-a67f-45ee-9789-d7384fd73a3e \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ZEBRATRUTH_API_KEY"

Response (status: completed)

{
  "requestId": "319b5d9e-a67f-45ee-9789-d7384fd73a3e",
  "status": "completed",
  "reportStatus": "complete",
  "billingStatus": "committed",
  "durationMs": 28000,
  "report": {
    "schemaVersion": "video-report.v1",
    "status": "complete",
    "checks": [
      {
        "agentId": "advertising-law",
        "checkName": "Unsubstantiated efficacy claim",
        "status": "flag",
        "severity": "medium",
        "evidenceIds": ["audio_003"],
        "timelineLocation": { "startMs": 4500, "endMs": 7200, "track": "audio" },
        "message": "Claim 'guaranteed results' lacks substantiation — FTC §5 risk.",
        "recommendation": "Add 'individual results may vary' overlay or remove claim."
      },
      {
        "agentId": "rights-clearance-image",
        "checkName": "Brand detected: Nike",
        "status": "flag",
        "severity": "medium",
        "evidenceIds": ["frame_007", "frame_009"],
        "timelineLocation": { "startMs": 12000, "endMs": 18000, "track": "video" }
      }
    ],
    "analysisDiagnostics": [],
    "preprocessing": {
      "transcriptionStatus": "complete",
      "frameAnalysisStatus": "complete",
      "degraded": false,
      "evidenceTruncated": false
    }
  }
}

Poll every 2 seconds. Typical completion: 20-60 seconds for a 30-second video.

Status state machine

queued → processing → completed (reportStatus: complete / insufficient_evidence)
                    ↓
                    failed (reportStatus: analysis_failed)

When status is completed or failed, stop polling.

Webhook alternative (recommended for production)

Configure a webhook URL once at the account level, then submit videos with no polling required:

curl -X POST https://api.zebratruth.ai/v1/compliance/check-video \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ZEBRATRUTH_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "requestId": "<uuid>",
    "blobPath": "<from step 3>",
    "jurisdictions": ["us"],
    "platforms": ["tiktok"],
    "mode": "fast",
    "webhookUrl": "https://yourapp.com/zebratruth-callback"
  }'

Each delivery is HMAC-signed with a stable signature across retries (5 attempts, exponential backoff). See Async + Webhooks for HMAC verification + retry handling.

Next Steps

Full video guide

Detailed examples, error codes, webhook HMAC verification.

Cost & credits

Per-second pricing math, tier multipliers, credit reservation lifecycle.

LLM Skill installation

Install the ZebraTruth skill so your LLM agent can run video compliance checks autonomously.

Getting Started

Video Compliance

Concepts

LLM Skill

Other Content Types

Quickstart

Run a Video Compliance Check

1. Get your API key

2. Validate your key

3. Request a video upload URL

4. Upload the video

5. Submit for compliance analysis

6. Poll for the report

Status state machine

Webhook alternative (recommended for production)

Next Steps

Full video guide

Cost & credits

LLM Skill installation

Other content types

​Run a Video Compliance Check

​1. Get your API key

​2. Validate your key

​3. Request a video upload URL

​4. Upload the video

​5. Submit for compliance analysis

​6. Poll for the report

​Status state machine

​Webhook alternative (recommended for production)

​Next Steps

Full video guide

Cost & credits

LLM Skill installation

Other content types

Run a Video Compliance Check

1. Get your API key

2. Validate your key

3. Request a video upload URL

4. Upload the video

5. Submit for compliance analysis

6. Poll for the report

Status state machine

Webhook alternative (recommended for production)

Next Steps