In a significant update to its content policy, YouTube has announced stringent new rules for the labeling of AI-generated videos.
As the digital innovation continues to evolve with artificial intelligence becoming increasingly integral in content creation, YouTube’s latest guidelines aim to foster transparency and authenticity across the platform.
Starting immediately, creators who upload videos that utilize altered or synthetic media, including those generated by generative AI technologies, will be mandated to disclose this information clearly.
This policy specifically targets realistic-looking content that viewers could easily mistake for genuine footage of people, events, or locations. The move is designed to prevent any confusion or misinformation, ensuring viewers are aware when they are viewing content that has been digitally altered or created.
However, people do have some complaints:
I am very disappointed that YouTube’s new rules on AI disclosure do not apply to animated kids content ie content farms. They are the ones that need it most, as demonstrated here. pic.twitter.com/hJPn2FtK8n
— iDuckFilms (@iDuckFilms) March 20, 2024
Under these new rules, any video that features a synthetic rendition of a real person’s voice, facial replacement, or significant alterations to footage of real-world events and locales will require a distinct label indicating the use of altered or synthetic media.
This label aims to inform viewers about the nature of the content they are consuming, highlighting whether sounds or visuals have been significantly edited or digitally generated.
However, people do not like this much as they say that the new disclosure requirements have some loopholes:
Everyday the future just gets more and more fucking horrifying
— 🐰 Blox 🔞 (@PeriBloxV2) March 20, 2024
YouTube has stated its commitment to applying these labels itself in instances where creators fail to do so, especially when the altered or synthetic content could potentially mislead viewers.
While the platform is giving creators time to adjust to these new standards, it has also clarified that persistent non-compliance will result in penalties.
These labels will be introduced on the mobile app, with subsequent rollouts planned for desktop and TV versions. For videos touching on sensitive topics like news, elections, finance, and health, labels will be prominently placed directly on the video player to ensure viewers are immediately aware of the content’s nature.
Although some people seemed to be quite chill about all this:
As long as it shows safe handling, responsibility, consequences, and also, proper field dressing of the harvest, it’s cool.
— Brandon D. (@Saponi2511) March 21, 2024
It’s important to note that the labeling requirement does not extend to all uses of generative AI. Creators employing AI for behind-the-scenes processes such as scriptwriting, idea generation, or automatic captioning will not need to label their content. Likewise, videos featuring “clearly unrealistic content” or minor edits like color adjustments and background blur are exempt from this requirement.
YouTube is also revamping its takedown request procedure for synthetic or altered content that misrepresents real individuals through facial or vocal imitation. As the platform continues to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by generative AI in content creation, more details on this updated process are expected to be shared soon.
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