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YouTube Expands AI Likeness Protection Beyond Its Inner Circle

YouTube is finally handing more adults a little digital holy water for the demon of AI impersonation. In the next few weeks, every creator age 18 and up will be able to use a likeness-detection feature that flags videos uploaded to YouTube that may have copied their face with AI.

The company said on its Community page that the point is to give users “more peace of mind” and “easy access to request the removal of unauthorized content.” Although the feature is officially framed for creators, YouTube spokesperson Jack Malon told The Verge that anybody can use it. “With this expansion, we’re making clear that whether creators have been uploading to YouTube for a decade or are just starting, they’ll have access to the same level of protection,” Malon said.

That matters because AI video fakery is getting slick enough to fool people, and the fallout isn’t just embarrassing — it can be manipulative, malicious, or commercial. Creators may also catch brands using their image to sell things without consent.

YouTube first teased the tool in 2024, then launched it in late 2025 for Partner Program creators, followed by journalists and politicians. To enroll, users must use YouTube Studio on desktop, open Likeness under Content detection, scan a QR code, submit a government ID, and record a selfie video. After that, YouTube scans uploads for face matches. Users can review flagged clips and file removal requests. The system can ask about copied voices, but it still can’t detect voice-only misuse.

Posted on 17 May 2026