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Meta is not the only company grappling with the rise in AI-generated content<\/a> and how it affects its platform. YouTube also quietly rolled out a policy change in June that will allow people to request the takedown of AI-generated or other synthetic content that simulates their face or voice. The change allows people to request the removal of this type of AI content under YouTube\u2019s privacy request process. It\u2019s an expansion on its previously announced approach to responsible AI agenda<\/a> first introduced in November.<\/p>\n Instead of requesting the content be taken down for being misleading, like a deepfake<\/a>, YouTube wants the affected parties to request the content\u2019s removal directly as a privacy violation. According to YouTube\u2019s recently updated Help documentation<\/a> on the topic, it requires first-party claims outside a handful of exceptions, like when the affected individual is a minor, doesn\u2019t have access to a computer, is deceased, or other such exceptions.<\/p>\n Simply submitting the request for a takedown doesn\u2019t necessarily mean the content will be removed, however. YouTube cautions that it will make its own judgment about the complaint based on a variety of factors. <\/p>\n For instance, it may consider if the content is disclosed as being synthetic or made with AI, whether it uniquely identifies a person, and whether the content could be considered parody, satire, or something else of value and in the public\u2019s interest. The company additionally notes that it may consider whether the AI content features a public figure or other well-known individual, and whether or not it shows them engaging in \u201csensitive behavior\u201d like criminal activity, violence, or endorsing a product or political candidate. The latter is particularly concerning in an election year, where AI-generated endorsements could potentially swing votes.<\/p>\n YouTube says it will also give the content\u2019s uploader 48 hours to act on the complaint. If the content is removed before that time has passed, the complaint is closed. Otherwise, YouTube will initiate a review. The company also warns users that removal means fully removing the video from the site and, if applicable, removing the individual\u2019s name and personal information from the title, description and tags of the video, as well. Users can also blur out the faces of people in their videos, but they can\u2019t simply make the video private to comply with the removal request, as the video could be set back to public status at any time. <\/p>\n The company didn\u2019t broadly advertise the change in policy, though in March it introduced a tool<\/a> in Creator Studio that allowed creators to disclose when realistic-looking content was made with altered or synthetic media, including generative AI. It also more recently began a test of a feature <\/a>that would allow users to add crowdsourced notes that provide additional context <\/a>on videos, like whether it\u2019s meant to be a parody or if it\u2019s misleading in some way. <\/p>\n YouTube is not against the use of AI, having already experimented with generative AI itself<\/a>, including with a comments summarizer and conversational tool for asking questions about a video or getting recommendations. However, the company has previously warned<\/a> that simply labeling AI content as such won\u2019t necessarily protect it from removal, as it will still have to comply with YouTube\u2019s Community Guidelines. <\/p>\n In the case of privacy complaints over AI material, YouTube won\u2019t jump to penalize the original content creator. <\/p>\n \u201cFor creators, if you receive notice of a privacy complaint, keep in mind that privacy violations are separate from Community Guidelines strikes and receiving a privacy complaint will not automatically result in a strike,\u201d a company representative last month shared<\/a> on the YouTube Community site where the company updates creators directly on new policies and features.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n