YouTube 2026 AI Disclosure Rules and How to Check Labels

YouTube requires disclosure of AI-generated or altered content that could be mistaken for reality. It explains disclosure requirements and exceptions, where to check labels, automatic labeling, and how disclosure relates to monetization.

Content that realistically synthesizes or alters real people, events, or places requires disclosure.
Scriptwriting assistance, caption creation, and color correction are examples that do not require disclosure.
AI labels can be applied through content credentials and automatic detection, in addition to creator disclosure.
Disclosing AI use does not itself affect monetization eligibility.
The November 2026 campaign expands education efforts; it does not introduce a new disclosure requirement.

YouTube requires disclosure of AI-generated or altered content that could be mistaken for reality. Supporting tasks such as creating captions or correcting colors are exempt. AI labels can be found around the player and in the expanded description.

The campaign information is based on the November 2, 2026 announcement. Disclosure requirements can be found in the YouTube Help Center.

The difference between the 2026 campaign and the disclosure system

“Hit Pause 2026” is a campaign that has broadened its scope to include information literacy education in the AI era. It has expanded beyond its earlier focus on preventing cyberbullying and teaching positive online commenting. The requirement to disclose AI content was not first introduced on that day.

Date	Official announcement	Key distinction
March 18, 2024	Announcement of a disclosure tool for realistic synthetic or altered content	Introduction of a system for creators to disclose its use
May 27, 2026	Announcement of improved label placement and expanded automatic AI detection	Changes to how labels are displayed and how content is detected
November 2, 2026	Unveiling of “Hit Pause 2026”	Expanded education on information literacy and critical media consumption in the AI era

The November announcement also included plans for educational programs linked to school lessons. These activities help people interpret content critically. Details are available in YouTube’s campaign announcement.

Comparing disclosure requirements and exceptions

The central criterion for disclosure is synthetic content or meaningful alterations that could be mistaken for reality. Using AI tools does not automatically make every task subject to disclosure. Changes to only part of a video, rather than the entire video, must also be assessed.

Task or content	Disclosure decision	Reason
Realistically synthesizing speech or actions that a real person did not say or perform	Disclosure required	Could be mistaken for the real person’s speech or actions
Altering footage to make a real building appear to be on fire	Disclosure required	Looks like an event that happened at a real location
Realistically generating a tornado that did not occur in a real city	Disclosure required	Presents a scene that did not happen as if it were real
Using AI to generate music that is the main focus of a video	Disclosure required	A music generation example specified by the Help Center
Assistance with drafting scripts or developing ideas	Example not requiring disclosure	Supporting work during production
Creating captions	Example not requiring disclosure	A production support function
Color correction or lighting filters	Example not requiring disclosure	Minor edits that do not mislead viewers about real events
A scene of riding a unicorn in a fantasy world	Example not requiring disclosure	Clearly unrealistic imagery

The distinction between production assistance and realistic synthesis was outlined when the system was introduced. The basis is the 2024 announcement introducing the disclosure tool. The Help Center’s list of examples is not an exhaustive list of every situation.

How to check YouTube AI labels

Labels can be found around the video player and in the expanded description. The May 2026 announcement moved labels for realistic AI content to more noticeable locations. Regular videos and Shorts display them differently.

Where to check	How labels are displayed according to official guidance
Regular videos	Labels for realistic AI-generated or altered content appear directly below the player, above the description
Shorts	Labels appear as an overlay on the video
Expanded description	Disclosure information for unrealistic or animated content, among other types
“How this content was made” in the description	Details about the production method, such as “Made with AI”

Follow these steps to check.

For regular videos, check directly below the player.
For Shorts, check the label displayed over the video.
Expand the description and check “How this content was made.”

Do not judge the current display based only on examples of older screens. The basis for the placement change is the May 2026 announcement of label updates. The Help Center also states that AI-generated music may be labeled in the player.

Automatic labels and creator disclosures

Labels can be applied automatically as well as through a creator’s own disclosure. Automatic detection does not remove the creator’s disclosure obligation. Not all automatic labels are applied on the same basis.

How the label is applied	Basis for the label
Direct disclosure by the creator	AI use indicated during upload
YouTube generative AI tools	Content made with those tools
Content Credentials	Information about AI production included in the file
Google’s internal systems	Detection of AI-generated or altered content

Content Credentials are additional information in a file that communicates details such as how it was made. YouTube also uses C2PA-based information. Details are available in the “How this content was made” help article.

If automatic detection makes an error, the disclosure status can generally be changed in YouTube Studio. However, changes are restricted for labels based on YouTube’s own AI tools, C2PA information, or direct review. Whether a label can be changed depends on why it was applied.

Creator disclosure settings and monetization

Disclosing AI use does not itself affect monetization eligibility. Repeated refusal to make required disclosures is a separate issue. Possible penalties include content removal or suspension from the YouTube Partner Program.

The YouTube Help Center’s “Disclosing use of generative AI content” specifies the following as an example requiring disclosure.

Makes a real person appear to say or do something they did not say or do

The disclosure settings procedure is as follows.

Start uploading content in YouTube Studio.
Under “AI use” in “Details,” select “Yes” if disclosure is required.
Set the remaining video details.

Community Guidelines still apply even when a label is added. Disclosure and the content’s compliance with policies are separate matters. The basis for these settings and penalties is the “Disclosing use of generative AI content” help article.

The difference between production methods and fact-checking

An AI label provides information about how content was made. There is no basis for treating it as a sign that every claim in the video has been verified. This distinction is necessary when considering both disclosure requirements and the ways labels are applied.

Common interpretation	What to distinguish
There is no label, so AI was not used	Some AI-assisted tasks do not require disclosure
There is a label, so the entire video is AI-generated	Content with meaningful alterations to only part of it also requires disclosure
There is a label, so everything in the video is false	The production method and the truth of individual claims must be assessed separately
There is an “Information source,” so the video’s claims have been authenticated	This indicator refers to the source that verified the Content Credentials information

Labels are therefore not a perfect tool for identifying every use of AI. Whether a particular statement is true should be checked by comparing it with the original statement. Footage of an event requires separate material to confirm when and where it happened.

Frequently asked questions

Did the November campaign introduce a new disclosure obligation?

The introduction of the disclosure tool was announced in March 2024. The November 2026 announcement expanded the scope of the media education campaign.

Must AI use for captions or scripts be disclosed?

Creating captions and assisting with scriptwriting are examples that do not require disclosure. If the finished video includes realistic synthetic scenes, those must be assessed separately.

Are AI labels added directly by creators?

Some are based on direct disclosure, while others are applied automatically. A label alone does not establish that the creator voluntarily disclosed AI use.

Does disclosing AI use stop monetization?

Disclosure itself does not affect monetization eligibility. Compliance with other content policies is assessed separately.

Does the absence of a label mean the video was actually filmed?

The absence of a label alone cannot establish whether footage was actually filmed. Some AI tasks do not require disclosure.

Can labels appear on unrealistic content too?

The examples exempt from disclosure and the range of content that may display labels are not the same. Official guidance explains that information about unrealistic content may appear in the description.

FAQ

Did the November 2026 campaign introduce a new AI disclosure requirement?

The introduction of the disclosure tool was announced in March 2024. The November 2026 announcement expands the scope of the media education campaign.

Do I need to disclose using AI to create captions or scripts?

Creating captions and helping write scripts are examples that do not require disclosure. Realistic synthetic scenes in the finished video need to be assessed separately.

Does AI-generated music also require disclosure?

The YouTube Help Center explicitly states that AI-generated music that is the main focus of a video requires disclosure.

Where can I find AI labels?

For regular videos, check below the player; for Shorts, check the label overlaid on the video. Information may also appear under ‘How this content was made’ in the expanded description.

Can a label be applied even if the creator does not disclose AI use?

Labels may be applied automatically through YouTube's own AI tools, content credentials, or internal detection systems.

Will disclosing AI use make me ineligible for monetization?

Disclosure itself does not affect monetization eligibility. Continued refusal to meet disclosure requirements may result in separate penalties.

Does the absence of a label mean that a video did not use AI?

You cannot conclude that. Some AI-assisted tasks do not require disclosure, so the absence of a label is not proof that AI was not used.

Can all incorrectly applied automatic labels be corrected?

Automatic detection errors can generally be corrected. Adjustments are limited for labels based on in-house AI tools, C2PA information, or manual review.

Sources

Images

A man in a blue sweater leans forward on a sofa, studying a video and information panel on a tablet on the table.

A teacher points to information beneath a projected tornado video while students listen in a classroom.