YouTube introduces new information tags to make real videos public after the rise of deepfakes

The problem of deepfakes is one that many social media apps continue to struggle with every day and YouTube is no exception.

This is why the popular video streaming giant is moving one step closer to combating deepfake content by rolling out new info tags. These are designed to distinguish real videos from fake videos. The latter also includes publications designed using AI and edited using filters, or perhaps republished from another source.

It’s a big step for the company, which will become visible when videos are uploaded to the platform via devices embedded in C2PA standards. This is a good reflection to determine which content is real and which has been edited.

Google’s head of C2PA shared a new post with more details about the new info tags. He explained how the tags provide insight into how the content was recorded. This includes details of cameras, software or mobile platforms used that met the standards rolled out by the C2PA.

According to the details, creators must use tools embedded with C2PA support to capture content if they want to add the ‘Captured with Camera’ tag to videos. This provides special information and more metadata space for video files and also confirms their authenticity.

After YouTube confirms the facts, the app will pass on the information and apply disclosures. The same goes for the sound and images. The disclosure notes that the video was taken with a camera or other recording device that does not contain any audio or visual edits.

We think this is a great initiative for the company to ensure that the material is genuine and genuine, giving viewers the assurance they need to distinguish real from fake.

On the other hand, it’s actually quite interesting to note that the tech giant is also one of the biggest names in the industry pushing for AI. So on the one hand it combats AI and on the other hand it promotes it.

We’ll give you a great recent example to put things into perspective. Meta asks users to share AI clicks of the Northern Lights, while Google starts testing AI-based responses to comments. Both tech giants are motivating users to share more fake content, but Google is countering this with C2PA information labels. The irony is real. What do you think?

Still, we’re all in favor of YouTube’s latest attempt to combat deepfakes. In a world like today, where it’s so difficult to decipher who you can trust and who you can’t, every effort should be welcomed. The latest tags will make it harder for fake videos of real events to circulate. Who wants to be fooled by doctored videos anyway, right?

We call this a great new level of transparency that was desperately needed. It’s a good step and while it needs improvement, it certainly has the potential to get better over time.

Read next: New ‘Click to Cancel’ rule requires companies to simplify subscription cancellations, FTC confirms