In a move aimed at fostering transparency and trust between creators and their audiences, YouTube announced today, March 19, the introduction of a tool within Creator Studio. This tool mandates creators to disclose to viewers when content—particularly realistic content—is crafted with altered or synthetic media, including generative AI.
The decision comes amidst a rapidly evolving landscape where
generative AI is revolutionising creative expression, raising concerns among viewers regarding the authenticity of the content they consume.
According to YouTube's recent statement, these disclosures will be prominently displayed either in the expanded description or directly on the video player. However, creators will not be obligated to disclose content that is clearly unrealistic or heavily laden with special effects.
Examples of content requiring disclosure include digitally altered faces of individuals, manipulated footage of real events or places, and realistic depictions of fictional scenarios.
While recognising the varied applications of generative AI in content creation, YouTube assures that disclosures will not be mandatory for routine uses of AI for productivity purposes, such as generating scripts or automatic captions.
Furthermore, the platform emphasises that enforcement measures may be implemented in the future for creators who consistently fail to disclose such information, with YouTube potentially adding labels to content that hasn't been disclosed, especially if it has the potential to mislead viewers.
