YouTube will ban content using AI that realistically mimics the voices of dead children

YouTube

YouTube will ban videos that use artificial intelligence to realistically imitate the voices of deceased minors or victims of violence, describing the circumstances of their death. The new restrictions will come into force from January 16.

Here's What We Know

The reason for the changes was the emergence of videos where the authors use AI technology to recreate the appearance and voices of children who died in high-profile crimes in order to speak on their behalf about their experiences of violence and death. Such videos have focused on the cases of missing British girls Madeleine McCann and James Bulger, as well as Gabriel Fernández, who was murdered in the US.

Such content will henceforth be removed from YouTube, and its authors will receive a first strike and a one-week publication ban. After three strikes, the channel will be blocked.

YouTube has previously introduced requirements to disclose the use of AI technology in videos where synthetic people or voices sound particularly realistic. It is also forbidden to show AI-generated "realistic violence" even when appropriately labelled.

Lack of labelling can lead to content removal and even suspension from YouTube's affiliate programme.

Source: Google