Kate Mills 
Mar 19, 2024
An undated image of YouTube logo. — Unsplash
Owing to the persistently growing amount of AI-generated content being posted on the internet, video streaming giant YouTube has launched a crackdown on creators posting artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content.
In spite of the crackdown, the Google-owned video streaming platform also requires content creators to ensure that the content is marked which has been altered using AI tools.
The decision comes on the heels of YouTube's updated content regulations it implemented in November 2023, wherein in obliges creators to ensure transparency when using AI for the sake of content.
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Additionally, the content — both long-format videos and Shorts — uploaded on the site will be labeled by the company if the owner of the content anyhow fails to add the AI content label on, alongside the possibility of the creator being penalised.
YouTube's official blog post, released on Monday, states, “We're beginning to roll out a new tool today that will require creators to share when the content they're uploading is meaningfully altered or synthetically generated and seems realistic.”
At present, YouTube intends to allow creators sufficient time to be familiar with the new requirements, but eventually it will implement consequences such as removing content, suspending from the YouTube Partner Programme, and more.
The company also stated that the process for adding the disclosure will be incorporated into the video uploading process to make it easier for creators to include the label.
According to YouTube, creators will encounter the disclosure on the initial page of the uploading process, just below the disclaimer for paid promotion. This new section called Altered Content includes three questions - whether the video prompts someone to say or do something they didn't actually say or do, whether it modifies real event or location footage, and whether it contains a realistic-looking scene that didn't happen. If any of these elements are present in the video, creators need to mark 'Yes', and YouTube will automatically include a label in the video's description.
The label will be placed in a new section in the description labeled “How this content was made”, where it will indicate “Altered or synthetic content - Sound or visuals were significantly edited or digitally generated.”
