YouTube mandates disclosure of altered or synthetic media by creators, including AI-generated content that could be mistaken for reality.

Content on sensitive topics like health, news, elections, and finance will get special labeling on the platform.

The labeling feature will roll out on mobile first, with subsequent availability on desktop browsers and YouTube TV.

The policy mirrors Meta's AI labeling initiatives, aiming to foster transparency and trust between creators and viewers.

YouTube is currently operating on the honor system for policy compliance, unlike Meta's more stringent enforcement.

Specific examples requiring labeling include AI-generated footage and images of non-existent events, but AI text-to-speech for voice-overs is exempt.

Google, YouTube's parent company, has faced its own AI challenges with Gemini creating historically misleading images.