Deepfake videos generated by artificial intelligence are already flooding social media platforms like YouTube. Women are disproportionately targeted by deepfakes, with explicit AI images and videos of them spreading online.
Fortunately, YouTube has realized how serious this problem is. The platform now provides a way for those who believe they have been exposed to a deepfake in a video to make a case for the removal of said video.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do this.
Deep video removal
First, YouTube’s policy on deepfake content states: “If someone uses artificial intelligence to alter or create content that looks or sounds like you, you can request its removal. In order to qualify for removal, the content must depict an edited or synthetic version of you that looks like you.”
In other words, you need to be confident that the deepfake video actually looks like you. If you’re sure, here’s how to proceed.
Step 1
Go to support.google.com/youtube. You will be taken to the YouTube Help Center.
Step 2
Scroll down until you see “Policy, Safety, and Copyright.” Click on it and a drop-down menu will appear.
Step 3
In the drop-down menu, click Privacy and Security Center. You will be taken to a new page.
Step 4
On the new Privacy & Security Center page, in the column on the left of your screen, you should see the “Protect your identity” topic. Click on it. You will be taken to a new page.
Step 5
On the new page is a sentence written in bold: “Report AI-generated content or other artificial content that looks or sounds like you.” Scroll down to these words linked in blue: “Privacy complaint process“. You will be taken to a new page.
Step 6
Scroll down and click Continue > “I still want to file a privacy complaint” > “Continue” > “I have reviewed our Community Guidelines” > “Continue” > Select from the three options:
- Report the use of your photo or name
- Reporting the use of other personal information
- Report modified or artificial content
File a complaint To YouTube
For example, we clicked “Report use of your photo or name.” You will now need to fill out the following form. Once finished, click Submit.
YouTube’s position on deepfakes
YouTube’s current stance on deepfakes, as seen above, is reactive. The video streaming giant does not have a policy that explicitly prohibits the distribution and trading of deepfake content, but it tries to protect users who may have been exposed.
On YouTube’s help page, the company’s misinformation policy states:
“Certain types of misleading or deceptive content that poses a high risk of harm are not permitted on YouTube. This includes certain types of misinformation that can cause real harm, certain types of content that has been technologically manipulated, or content that interferes with… With democratic processes.
However, Alphabet, YouTube’s parent company, which also owns Google, is aggressively pushing AI features like Gemini into its core products. How will this affect YouTube’s current policy? We’ll just have to wait and see.
image: Lam Yik/Bloomberg via Getty Images