YouTube has joined Meta in addressing the challenges posed by the increasing prevalence of AI-generated content on its platform. In a recent policy update, YouTube now allows individuals to request the removal of AI-generated or synthetic content that mimics their face or voice. This change, which was quietly introduced in June, enables users to submit privacy requests to have such content taken down.
Unlike the approach taken with misleading content like deepfakes, YouTube now requires affected parties to directly request the removal of AI-generated content as a privacy violation. The platform’s updated Help documentation outlines the process for submitting first-party claims, with a few exceptions for cases involving minors, individuals without computer access, deceased persons, and other special circumstances.
However, simply requesting the takedown of AI-generated content does not guarantee its removal. YouTube will evaluate each complaint based on various factors, including whether the content is disclosed as synthetic, its potential to uniquely identify a person, and whether it serves a purpose like parody or satire. The platform will also consider if the content features public figures engaging in sensitive behavior, such as criminal acts or endorsing products or political candidates, especially concerning in election years.
Upon receiving a complaint, YouTube gives the uploader 48 hours to respond. If the content is removed within that timeframe, the complaint is closed; otherwise, YouTube will conduct a review. The platform emphasizes that removal entails deleting the video and, if necessary, scrubbing personal details from the video’s metadata. While users can blur faces in videos, simply setting a video to private in response to a removal request is not sufficient, as it could be made public again.
Although YouTube has not extensively publicized this policy change, it has introduced tools to help creators disclose content created using altered or synthetic media, such as generative AI. Additionally, a new feature is being tested to allow users to add crowdsourced notes that provide additional information about videos, like clarifying if they are parodies or contain misleading content.
While YouTube acknowledges the benefits of AI, having experimented with generative AI tools itself, the platform stresses that labeling content as AI-generated does not exempt it from removal if it violates Community Guidelines. Privacy complaints related to AI content will not lead to penalties for the original creator; however, repeated violations may prompt action against their accounts.
In summary, YouTube’s Privacy Guidelines differ from its Community Guidelines, and content may be removed due to privacy requests even if it does not breach Community Guidelines. Although privacy complaints do not result in automatic strikes against creators, YouTube may take action against accounts with recurring violations of its policies.
