YouTube similarity detection technology has officially launched

YouTube revealed on Tuesday that its similarity detection technology has officially rolled out to eligible creators in the YouTube Partner Programme, after a beta phase. This technology allows creators to request the removal of AI-generated content that uses their likeness.

This is the first wave of the rollout, a YouTube spokesperson told TechCrunch, adding that eligible creators received emails this morning.

YouTube’s detection technology identifies and manages AI-generated content that features creators’ likenesses, such as their faces and voices.

This technology is designed to prevent people from misusing their images, whether to endorse products and services they have not agreed to support or to spread misleading information. There have been plenty of examples of AI misuse in recent years, such as Elecrow using an AI clone of YouTuber Jeff Geerling’s voice to promote its products.

On its Creator Insider channel, the company provided instructions on how creators can use this technology. To begin the setup process, creators need to go to the “Like” tab, consent to data processing, and use their smartphone to scan a QR code displayed on the screen, which will direct them to an identity verification web page. This process requires a photo ID and a short video of the photo.

Once YouTube grants access to use the tool, creators can view all detected videos and submit a takedown request according to YouTube’s privacy guidelines, or they can submit a copyright request. There is also an option to archive the video.

Creators can opt out of this technology at any time, and YouTube will stop searching for videos 24 hours after they do so.

The similarity detection technology has been in beta mode since earlier this year. YouTube first announced last year that it had partnered with the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to help celebrities, athletes, and creators identify content on the platform that used their AI-generated images.

In April, YouTube expressed support for legislation referred to as the Anti-Counterfeiting Act, which seeks to address the problem of AI-generated replicas that mimic a person’s image or voice to deceive others and create malicious content.