Likeness Detection

Extracted Attributes

• Purpose

  Protect creators' likeness rights, prevent misuse of AI-generated content

• Developer

  YouTube

• Mechanism

  Identifies AI-generated content featuring someone's likeness (face, voice); creators can opt-in by uploading an image of their face and request content removal

• Foundation

  YouTube's Content ID system

• Problem Addressed

  Deepfakes, AI-generated content simulating appearance/voice, disinformation, child sexual abuse material, revenge porn, fake news, financial fraud

• Deepfake Technologies

  Variational Autoencoders (VAEs), Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs)

• Supported Legislation

  NO FAKES ACT

Timeline

• YouTube introduced its likeness detection system in partnership with the Creative Artists Agency (CAA). (Source: Web search results)

  2024-12-01

• YouTube expanded access to the likeness detection pilot program to a handful of top creators. (Source: Web search results)

  2025-04-09

• YouTube announced the expansion of its likeness detection technology to all creators in the YouTube Partner Program. (Source: Web search results)

  2025-09-16

Deepfake

Deepfakes (a portmanteau of 'deep learning' and 'fake') are images, videos, or audio that have been edited or generated using artificial intelligence, AI-based tools or audio-video editing software. They may depict real or fictional people and are considered a form of synthetic media, that is media that is usually created by artificial intelligence systems by combining various media elements into a new media artifact. While the act of creating fake content is not new, deepfakes uniquely leverage machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques, including facial recognition algorithms and artificial neural networks such as variational autoencoders (VAEs) and generative adversarial networks (GANs). In turn, the field of image forensics has worked to develop techniques to detect manipulated images. Deepfakes have garnered widespread attention for their potential use in creating child sexual abuse material, celebrity pornographic videos, revenge porn, fake news, hoaxes, bullying, and financial fraud. Academics have raised concerns about the potential for deepfakes to promote disinformation and hate speech, as well as interfere with elections. In response, the information technology industry and governments have proposed recommendations and methods to detect and mitigate their use. Academic research has also delved deeper into the factors driving deepfake engagement online as well as potential countermeasures to malicious application of deepfakes. From traditional entertainment to gaming, deepfake technology has evolved to be increasingly convincing and available to the public, allowing for the disruption of the entertainment and media industries.

Web Search Results

• YouTube expands likeness detection to all creators

  How it works: The tool helps identify and manage AI-generated content that features someone's likeness, namely their face. A creator can opt-in by uploading an image of their face. They then can request to have the identified content removed through YouTube's privacy complaint process. The tool will become available to all creators in the YouTube Partner Program over the coming months, the company announced Tuesday at its Made On event in New York. [...] Skip to main content Axios Sep 16, 2025 - Business # YouTube expands likeness detection to all creators Kerry Flynn Add Axios on Google Add Axios as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Add Axios on Google YouTube has expanded its likeness detection technology to all creators in the YouTube Partner Program as part of its efforts to address the risks of generative AI. [...] Flashback: Last December, YouTube partnered with Creative Artists Agency to develop and test the tool. YouTube expanded access in April. Pilot testers have included MrBeast, Mark Robert, Doctor Mike and Marques Brownlee. Between the lines: The tool is similar to YouTube's Content ID system, which identifies copyright-protected content submitted by copyright owners, including visuals and audio.

• Likeness Detection API - Hive AI

  ###### Our deep learning model compares visual content holistically, not pixel-by-pixel. We detect likeness based on the defining characteristics of well-known characters and artworks. #### Comprehensive search index Regularly updated, our Likeness Detection model detects a comprehensive suite of the most well-known characters across the most popular IP domains. [...] Regularly updated, our Likeness Detection model detects a comprehensive suite of the most well-known characters across the most popular IP domains. ### Comprehensive search index Regularly updated, our Likeness Detection model detects a comprehensive suite of the most well-known characters across the most popular IP domains. Regularly updated, our Likeness Detection model detects a comprehensive suite of the most well-known characters across the most popular IP domains. [...] Identifies the “likeness” of the most popular characters and artworks in images across a constantly expanding breadth of well-known IP domains. # Likeness Detection API ###### Identifies the “likeness” of the most popular characters and artworks in images across a constantly expanding breadth of well-known IP domains. ## Comprehensive searches, actionable results ### Comprehensive searches, actionable results

• YouTube expands AI likeness detection tools to protect ...

  The likeness detection system builds on YouTube’s powerful Content ID system. However, this technology goes further than copyright protection by automatically detecting violating content. When it comes to content creation, AI-generated content simulates a creator’s appearance or voice that could mislead viewers or damage reputations. With this tech, creators will have more control over how their likeness is used on YouTube. [...] YouTube is stepping up its efforts to protect creators from AI misuse by expanding its AI likeness detection pilot program. YouTube originally announced its responsible AI tools in late 2024, partnering with the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to tackle AI-generated content on the platform. Now, the platform is enlisting the help of top creators like MrBeast, Mark Rober, and Marques Brownlee to test and refine the technology. [...] YouTube also shared its previously updated privacy process that lets creators submit takedown requests when their likeness is misused, alongside likeness management tools to control how AI is used to depict them on the platform. Now, YouTube’s new detection tools are set to supercharge that process. ### Important for the industry

• YouTube expands its 'likeness' detection technology, which ...

  The company introduced its likeness detection system in partnership with the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in December 2024. The new technology builds on YouTube’s efforts with its existing Content ID system, which detects copyright-protected material in users’ uploaded videos. Similar to Content ID, the program works to automatically detect violating content — in this case, simulated faces or voices that were made with AI tools, YouTube explained earlier this year. Techcrunch event [...] YouTube on Wednesday announced an expansion of its pilot program designed to identify and manage AI-generated content that features the “likeness,” including the face, of creators, artists, and other famous or influential figures. The company is also publicly declaring its support for the legislation known as the NO FAKES ACT%20and%20other%20technologies.), which aims to tackle the problem of AI-generated replicas that simulate someone’s image or voice to mislead others and create harmful [...] In addition to the likeness detection technology pilot, the company also previously updated its privacy process to allow people to request the removal of altered or synthetic content that simulates their likeness. It also added likeness management tools that let people detect and manage how AI is used to depict them on YouTube. Topics AI, deepfakes, Media & Entertainment, YouTube Sarah Perez Consumer News Editor

• Guide to Deepfake Detection - Paravision

  Any of various media, esp. a video that has been digitally manipulated to replace one person’s likeness convincingly with that of another, often used maliciously to show someone doing something that he or she did not do.¹ [...] Deepfakes raise profound concerns regarding human rights violations and infringements on personal privacy, mainly through the unauthorized use of individuals’ likenesses in fabricated content. The proliferation of deepfake-generated pornographic material disproportionately affects women and can have devastating consequences for victims. Studies indicate that 96% of deepfake videos on the internet are pornographic, highlighting the prevalence of non-consensual and malicious use of deepfake