diff --git a/.changeset/fix-emitter-timestamps.md b/.changeset/fix-emitter-timestamps.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..30b50d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/fix-emitter-timestamps.md
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+"@wasmagent/aep": patch
+---
+
+fix(aep): use Date.now() instead of performance.now() for default timestamps
+
+- `emit()` / `build()` now defaults `created_at_ms` to `Date.now()` (Unix epoch ms) instead of `performance.now()` (ms since process start). Fixes records showing `1970-01-01` in downstream audit tools.
+- `addAction()` without explicit `timestamp_ms` also defaults to `Date.now()`.
+- `addAction()` with `capability_decision` now auto-registers to `capability_decisions[]` (deduped), fixing silent empty manifest in downstream `toEvents()`.
+
+Fixes: #14, #15
diff --git a/packages/aep/src/emitter.ts b/packages/aep/src/emitter.ts
index 14ed148..0a52026 100644
--- a/packages/aep/src/emitter.ts
+++ b/packages/aep/src/emitter.ts
@@ -47,9 +47,17 @@ export class AEPEmitter {
   ): void {
     this.#actions.push({
       action_id: action.action_id ?? `action-${this.#actions.length}`,
-      timestamp_ms: action.timestamp_ms ?? performance.now(),
+      timestamp_ms: action.timestamp_ms ?? Date.now(),
       ...action,
     } as ActionEvidence);
+    if (action.capability_decision) {
+      const cd = action.capability_decision;
+      const exists = this.#capabilityDecisions.some(
+        (d) =>
+          d.capability === cd.capability && d.subject === cd.subject && d.resource === cd.resource
+      );
+      if (!exists) this.#capabilityDecisions.push(cd);
+    }
   }
 
   addCapabilityDecision(decision: CapabilityDecision): void {
@@ -78,7 +86,7 @@ export class AEPEmitter {
    *
    * For a fully signed record use `emit()` instead.
    *
-   * @param createdAtMs - Override creation timestamp (defaults to performance.now()).
+   * @param createdAtMs - Override creation timestamp (defaults to Date.now()).
    * @param signerOverride - Optional: provide a signer to sign inline (async variant).
    *   Prefer `emit()` for async signing.
    */
@@ -150,7 +158,7 @@ export class AEPEmitter {
       actions: this.#actions,
       verifier_results: this.#verifierResults,
       budget_ledger: this.#budgetLedger,
-      created_at_ms: createdAtMs ?? performance.now(),
+      created_at_ms: createdAtMs ?? Date.now(),
     };
   }