• by Colin Kirkland , Yesterday

YouTube has expanded the application of its likeness-detection technology to a small group of government officials, journalists, and political candidates in an effort to protect the identities of reporters and civic leaders against misleading AI-generated content.

Following the expansion of its deepfake prevention program last April, YouTube announced in October that it was rolling out likeness-detection to creators in the company's Partner Program, enabling them to ask that AI-generated content using their likeness be removed from the video-sharing platform.

Likeness detection was designed to safeguard creators' identities while ensuring that their audience is not misled, especially with regard to the brands, products and services creators are purposefully endorsing.

Having now launched to all 4 million eligible YouTube creators, likeness detection is being expanded to a pilot program of leaders at the center of civic discussion, debate, reportage and policy.

“As AI-generated content evolves, the individuals at the center of these conversations need reliable tools to protect their identities,” the company writes in its announcement.

The tool is trained to look for a participant’s likeness in AI-generated content, and if a match is found, the individual has the option to review the content and request removal if its violates YouTube’s official privacy guidelines.

“Detection does not guarantee removal,” the company statement reads, explaining that YouTube will continue to preserve parody and satire, “even when used to critique world leaders or influential figures,” and will “carefully evaluate these exceptions” when receiving requests for removal.

The company plans to “significantly expand access” to this tool over the coming months.