In the coming weeks, YouTube is giving all creators 18 and older access to a tool that can detect if their likeness has been copied and used in AI videos uploaded to the website. Team YouTube made the announcement on the platform’s community page, stating that their “goal is to provide [users] Giving brings more peace to the mind [them] Easy access to request removal of unauthorized content.” While the similarity detection tool is technically only available to creators, spokesperson Jack Malone explained. The Verge That anyone can use it.
“With this expansion, we’re making it clear that whether creators have been uploading to YouTube for a decade or are just starting out, they will have access to the same level of protection,” Malone said in a statement. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between real and AI videos these days, and the widespread availability of tools can also help ordinary people who suddenly find their faces used in potentially malicious or misleading AI videos. For creators, this can help them catch brands and companies using their likeness without permission to promote products and services.
YouTube first previewed the tool in 2024 before rolling it out in late 2025. It was launched exclusively for Partner Program members, creators who have monetized their channel after gaining 1,000 followers and accumulating enough watch hours or short views from the public within a certain period. YouTube made this tool available to journalists and politicians before this expansion.
Users who want access to the new tools will need to enroll from YouTube Studio on their computer. They can start the process by going to “Likeness” under “Content Detection,” scanning a QR code with their phone, submitting a government ID, and completing a selfie video verification. Once they’re set up, YouTube will scan uploaded videos for possible matches to their face, and they’ll view any videos that potentially use their likeness under the same tab. They can then review the video and submit a removal request, where they can provide YouTube with information about how their likeness was used. YouTube will also ask if the video mimics their voice for evaluation, but the tool can’t detect based on voice alone.
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