A device for use in a system for tracking a chain-of-manipulation (CoM) of audio-video (AV) content includes a hardware processor, and a system memory storing a CoM tagging software code and an AV processing application. The hardware processor executes the CoM tagging software code to detect manipulation of the AV content by the AV processing application that modifies at least one of video or audio of the AV content, and to generate, when the manipulation is detected, one or more CoM tag(s) including a device identification tag identifying the device used for modifying the AV content. The hardware processor also executes the CoM tagging software code to insert the CoM tag(s) in each modified segment of the AV content modified by the AV processing application, the inserted CoM tag(s) being human and machine imperceptible when the AV content is played back by a playback device on a display.