YouTube Discloses New Rules for Labelling Gen-AI Contents

YouTube requires labeling for videos featuring realistic altered or synthetic content, like gen-artificial intelligence (AI) media, upon upload.

As AI continues to boom, firms and platforms are battling to handle the surging prevalence of gen-AI content. A key focus is to guarantee transparency by distinctly marking gen-AI, whether it be images, videos, or audio files.

Meanwhile, YouTube has unveiled new guidelines for labeling videos generated with AI in response to this challenge. The video-streaming platform defines realistic content as material that viewers could mistake for legitimate footage of people, events, or places.

Moreover, creators using synthetic voices or replacing faces in videos must include a label as per the platform guidelines. Likewise, any modifications to footage of actual events or locations, like changing cityscapes or simulating fires, will require disclosure.

According to reports, YouTube has cautioned that non-compliance with these regulations may lead to penalties, especially for repeat offenders who fail to categorize content appropriately.

Furthermore, for sensitive topics such as news, elections, finance, and health, the platform intends to prominently display labels directly on the video player for improved visibility.

However, creators won’t have to characterize content if they only use gen-AI for tasks like script creation, generating video ideas, or auto-generating captions.

Moreover, labels won’t be needed for content considered clearly unrealistic, inconsequential alterations like color adjustments, or basic special effects like background blurring.

Content Labels Feature Debut on YouTube’s Mobile App

YouTube revealed that the altered and synthetic content labels will initially debut on its mobile app, with the desktop browser and YouTube TV to follow in the coming weeks.

Concurrently, while the timing remains unspecified, the platform stated it would penalize users who persistently fail to disclose this information.

Additionally, the video-streaming app mentioned might include the feature itself if unlabeled content could potentially confuse or mislead viewers.

YouTube is also developing an updated procedure for addressing takedown requests concerning synthetic or altered content featuring identifiable individuals. The platform will provide additional information about this revised process in due course.