YouTube Cracks Down on Deepfakes, Allows Takedowns of Unauthorized AI-Generated Content

YouTube steps up efforts to combat AI deepfakes with new removal policy, allowing individuals to request takedowns of unauthorized AI-generated content depicting them.

Key details of the updated policy: YouTube has implemented a new policy to address the rise of AI-generated content that mimics individuals without their consent:

• Affected individuals can now request the removal of AI-generated content that realistically depicts them through YouTube’s privacy request process.
• To qualify for removal, the content must depict a realistic altered or synthetic version of the individual’s likeness.
• Content creators have two days to remove the likeness or the entire video after a complaint is received, after which YouTube will review and decide if the complaint has merit.

Balancing privacy concerns with creative expression: The decision to remove AI-generated content depends on various factors, ensuring a balance between protecting individual privacy and allowing for legitimate use cases:

• Videos that acknowledge AI origins, are made as parodies or satires, or involve public figures engaged in criminal activity or endorsements may not be subject to removal.
• Privacy complaints are separate from Community Guidelines strikes, though repeated privacy violations could lead to user bans.

Broader context of platforms grappling with AI content: YouTube’s updated policy is part of ongoing efforts by social media platforms to address the challenges posed by synthetic media and AI-generated content:

• The rise of AI-generated content, including deepfakes, has led to privacy concerns and potential misuse on platforms like YouTube.
• In March, YouTube introduced tools for creators to disclose when their content is made with synthetic media and is piloting a crowdsourced notes feature to indicate misleading AI content.

Implications for content creators and public figures: The new policy has implications for both content creators and public figures:

• Content creators must be more cautious when using AI-generated content depicting individuals and ensure they have the necessary permissions or fall within the allowed use cases.
• Public figures may have more difficulty getting AI-generated content removed, especially if it involves criminal activity or endorsements, highlighting the challenges in balancing privacy and public interest.

As AI-generated content continues to evolve, platforms like YouTube will need to continuously adapt their policies and tools to strike a balance between protecting individual privacy rights and fostering creative expression in the age of synthetic media.