Preserving integrity of multi-authored message content

A computer-implemented method for authenticating content of a message, the method comprising:

• receiving a message from a sender, wherein the message includes first content from the sender and second content from an author, and wherein the sender is not the author;
• validating the first content based on validating the sender;
• extracting signature metadata associated with the second content;
• determining whether the second content is authentic based on the signature metadata;
• and
• based on the determining, providing an icon near the second content in the message.

A system comprising:

• at least one processing unit;
• and
• at least one memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the system to:
• receive, from an author, original content, wherein the original content is associated with a digital signature;
• generate signature metadata for the digital signature;
• receive an indication to embed the original content in a message of a sender, wherein the sender is not the author;
• embed the original content and the signature metadata in the message;
• and
• send the message including the original content and the signature metadata to a recipient, wherein the original content is authenticated based at least in part on the signature metadata.