Innovative Information Hiding in H.266/VVC using Sub-Block Transform Technique

Information hiding in videos plays a crucial role in various applications, such as video authentication and content augmentation. While extensive research has explored information hiding in videos, its integration with the latest video compression standard, H.266/Versatile Video Coding (VVC), has received limited attention. This study proposes novel techniques for embedding information within compressed video streams utilising H.266/VVC. Recent advancements in transform coding techniques have led to the incorporation of advanced tools within VVC. This research investigates the potential of unique VVC features for information hiding, specifically focusing on SubBlock Transform (SBT). By manipulating SBT selections, we aim to achieve minimal degradation in video quality and compression efficiency while embedding information. Furthermore, we compare the effectiveness of using SBT against the Selective Quantisation Technique (SQT). This comparison assesses their capabilities in maximising the information hiding capacity within H.266/VVC streams with minimal impact on video quality. To the best of our knowledge, this research presents the first information hiding technique specifically designed for H.266/VVC that leverages SBT.