YouTube will label videos shot with cameras to signal authentic, AI-free content

YouTube’s new ‘Captured with a camera’ badge is meant to check the authenticity of a video.

YouTube recently announced that Shorts can now be up to 3 minutes long. (Image Source: Unsplash)

YouTube videos that have been captured using a real camera will now carry specific labels stating that. The new “captured with a camera” label is being rolled out as part of the tech giant’s broader efforts to tackle AI-generated content on the platform.

The new label, which will appear in the expanded description of a video, is meant to show that “the creator used specific technology to verify their video’s origin and confirm its audio and visuals haven’t been altered,” YouTube said. This means that only videos with unedited footage or sound are eligible to be tagged in this manner.

A video uploaded by YouTube channel ‘Trupic’ carries the “captured with a camera” label in the description. (Screenshot: YouTube)

Additionally, the feature will only work on certain cameras and recording devices. “For “captured with a camera” to appear in the expanded description, creators must use tools with built-in C2PA support (version 2.1 or higher) to capture their videos,” the company said.

How does the labelling work?

The open, technical standard developed by the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) forms the basis of the verification process. When a video is uploaded on YouTube, the platform’s tools will attach specific information or metadata to the video file as long as they have no edited footage or sound and have been captured via supported hardware.

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“YouTube will relay the information that the content was “Captured with a camera,” and apply the disclosure when it detects this metadata,” the platform said.

What type of content will not be labelled?

According to YouTube, the label will not show up if the content has been edited to make it impossible to trace the video back to its original source. “For example, if you capture an image with C2PA metadata and then save it to your phone’s photo album that doesn’t support C2PA v2.1 or higher, that may break the chain of provenance,” YouTube said.
The platform also suggests avoiding “significant alterations to the video’s core nature or content, including its sounds or visuals” if you want your video to be marked as “captured with a camera”.

Currently, YouTube’s policy requires creators to self-disclose content that has been generated using AI tools. It is also reportedly working on ways to let creators take action against AI-generated content on the platform that has been created in their likeness.