YouTube Expands AI Likeness Detection Tool to All Adult Users

YouTube expanded its AI likeness detection tool to all users aged 18 and older on May 16, 2026. The feature allows individuals to monitor the platform for AI-generated deepfakes using their facial likeness and request the removal of unauthorized content that violates the platform's Privacy Guidelines.

Originally launched in October 2025 for a limited group of public figures, journalists, politicians, and monetized creators, the tool is now available to any adult with an account. To activate the feature, users must complete a one-time enrollment process in YouTube Studio, which requires a selfie-style facial scan, a selfie video verification, and the submission of a government ID.

When the system identifies a facial match in an uploaded video, it alerts the user. The user can then request content removal based on whether the depiction is realistic or uniquely identifies them, though parody and satire are excluded from these requests. While the detection system only identifies facial likeness and cannot detect voice clones independently, YouTube requests information regarding voice cloning during the removal process to assist in its evaluation.