YoutubeApple quietly rolled out a new policy that allows users to request removal of AI-generated content that imitates their faces or voices, in response to the rapid rise of AI-generated content and its impact on the platform.
Under the new policy, affected individuals can request the removal of AI-generated content through YouTube's privacy request process on the grounds of privacy violation. YouTube emphasizes that except for special circumstances (such as minors, people who cannot use computers or deceased persons), the deletion request needs to be made directly by the parties involved.
YouTube says submitting a removal request does not mean the content will be removed. The company will make a determination based on a number of factors, including:
1. Whether the content is identified as synthetic or AI-generated
2. Can it uniquely identify a person?
3. Whether the content can be considered a parody, satire or has public interest value
4. Whether the content involves public figures or celebrities
5. Does the content display sensitive behavior, such as criminal activity or support for a specific product or political candidate?
YouTube will also give content uploaders 48 hours to deal with complaints. If the content is deleted during this period, the complaint will be closed; otherwise, YouTube will initiate a review. It is worth noting that deletion means completely removing the video and removing relevant personal information from the video title, description, and tags.
The company hasn’t widely publicized the policy changes, but in March it launched a tool in Creator Studio that allows creators to disclose whether realistic-looking content was made using altered or synthetic media, including generative AI. The company also recently began testing a feature that lets users add crowdsourced annotations to give more context to a video, such as whether it’s a parody or misleading.
YouTube emphasized that AI content must comply with community guidelines, and simply labeling AI content does not guarantee that it will not be deleted. At the same time, the company also stated that deleting content due to privacy complaints will not automatically lead to punishment for creators, but it may take action against accounts that repeatedly violate the rules.