LI Network
Published on: December 08, 2023 at 11:40 IST
YouTube has affirmed that deepfake videos are contrary to its interests, as none of its stakeholders wish to be associated with platforms permitting fake news or misinformation.
Ishan John Chatterjee, YouTube’s India Director, reiterated the platform’s alignment with government objectives and key stakeholders. He emphasized YouTube’s compliance with all local laws and ongoing collaboration with the government on emerging issues.
Chatterjee clarified, “Misinformation, in general, and deepfakes in AI are actually not in our interest at all.” He highlighted the shared sentiment among users, creators, and advertisers who prefer not to be linked with platforms allowing misinformation.
The statement comes in response to concerns raised by Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar about social media platforms not aligning their terms of use with the new IT rules from October 2022.
Acknowledging the government’s directives, Chatterjee stated, “YouTube’s intentions are very aligned with the government and key stakeholders.”
The government, led by Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, has urged social media platforms to take strict action against deepfakes.
Vaishnaw has hinted at new guidelines to combat deepfakes, responding to the rise of manipulated content affecting various public figures.
Timothy Katz, YouTube Director Global Head of Responsibility, emphasized the company’s commitment to removing non-compliant content and recommending videos from credible sources.
YouTube’s compliance report for Q2 2023 highlighted the removal of over 78,000 videos globally for violating misinformation policies. Additionally, 9,63,000 videos were taken down for violating spam, deceptive practices, and scams policies.
To address concerns about deepfakes, Google, YouTube’s parent company, announced that content creators must disclose any altered or synthetic content posted on the platform.
Katz emphasized the importance of labeling realistic-looking content to prevent user deception.
Google will also enable the removal of AI-generated or synthetic content simulating identifiable individuals, ensuring user privacy through a designated request process.