YouTube on Wednesday said it would expand access to its artificial intelligence (AI) detection tool to politicians and journalists.
The company will allow a pilot group of lawmakers and reporters to use its likeness detection feature, which flags AI-generated content that uses a person’s likeness and allows them to request removal if it violates YouTube policy.
“We know that the risks of AI impersonation are particularly high for those in the civic space. But while we are providing this new shield, we’re also being careful about how we use it,” Leslie Miller, YouTube’s vice president of Government Affairs and Public Policy, in a press briefing ahead of Tuesday’s launch, according to TechCrunch.
YouTube declined to name the participants in the pilot program. People must provide a video selfie and government identification to enroll in the program, according to a company blog post.
“While this tool provides a powerful way to manage unauthorized AI-impersonation, detection does not guarantee removal,” the blog post says.
“YouTube has a long history of protecting free expression and content in the public interest—including preserving content like parody and satire, even when used to critique world leaders or influential figures. We’ll continue to carefully evaluate these exceptions when we receive requests for removal,” it continued.
The company rolled out the tool in 2024 and was initially available only to creators in the YouTube Partner Program, but said YouTube always intended to expand access to the feature.
“We’ve always known that there was a need for this tech to go beyond just creators, and so today, we’re excited to announce that we’re going to expand this pilot to journalists and government officials, and we’re starting with a pilot group so we can learn how this group of users will use it to protect their identities online,” says Amjad Hanif, VP of Creator Products said at the press briefing.
