YouTube has taken a significant step in ensuring transparency within its creator community by unveiling a new tool aimed at disclosing altered or synthetic content. In a recent official blog post titled ‘How we’re helping creators disclose altered or synthetic content’, the platform outlined measures to assist creators in revealing whether their content includes generative AI or other synthetic media.According to the post, YouTube has integrated this tool into Creator Studio, facilitating creators in making necessary disclosures.

The platform clarified that disclosure is not mandatory for content deemed clearly unrealistic, animated, featuring special effects, or utilizing generative AI for production assistance.Examples of content requiring disclosure were also provided, including digitally altering the likeness of a real person, manipulating footage of real events, and generating realistic scenes depicting fictional major incidents. While acknowledging the diverse use of generative AI by creators, YouTube emphasized that disclosure is not required for instances where its usage is for productivity, color adjustments, lighting filters, or inconsequential changes.

The post further detailed plans for labeling altered or synthetic content across all YouTube surfaces and formats, prioritizing transparency for viewers. Moreover, YouTube hinted at potential enforcement measures for creators who consistently fail to disclose such information, emphasizing collaboration with industry partners to enhance transparency around digital content through initiatives like the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA).