YouTube unveils a new tool enhancing transparency for AI-Altered Content

YouTube today announced the rollout of a new feature designed to increase viewer trust and transparency. Creators will now be required to disclose the use of realistically altered or synthetic media generated via generative AI tools in their content. This initiative aims to help viewers easily distinguish between genuine and AI-manipulated videos.

In a recent blog post, YouTube acknowledged the transformative impact of generative AI on creative expression. However, they also highlighted the growing demand from viewers for more transparency regarding manipulated content. The new labeling tool empowers creators to build trust with their audience by clearly indicating when content depicts scenarios, people, or places which have been significantly altered.

The disclosure will appear as a prominent label in two potential locations:

• Video Player: Sensitive videos covering topics like health, finance, news, and elections will feature a clear label directly on the video itself.
• Expanded Description: A label in the video's expanded description will be the standard for most videos.

Examples of Content Requiring Disclosure

YouTube's blog post outlines specific examples of content requiring a disclosure label:

• Replacing faces or synthetically generating voices for realistic representations of people.
• Altering footage of real places or events to present a misleading scenario.
• Depicting realistic fictional events, such as natural disasters, within real locations.

Creators will not need to label unrealistic alterations like animation, special effects, color filters, or minor beauty enhancements. YouTube is committed to continuous improvement, and may add labels to undisclosed content if it believes viewers could be misled. Future enforcement measures may be considered for creators who repeatedly avoid disclosure.

YouTube emphasizes its commitment to industry collaboration on digital content transparency, as demonstrated by its role in the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA).