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YouTube rolls back rules on Covid-19 and 2020 election misinformation

Google’s YouTube has announced it will reinstate accounts previously banned for repeatedly posting misinformation about Covid-19 and the 2020 US presidential election. The decision marks another rollback of moderation rules that once targeted health and political falsehoods.

The platform said the move reflects a broader commitment to free expression and follows similar changes at Meta and Elon Musk’s X.

YouTube had already scrapped policies barring repeat claims about Covid-19 and election outcomes, rules that had led to actions against figures such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Children’s Health Defense Fund and Senator Ron Johnson.

An announcement that came in a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, amid a Republican-led investigation into whether the Biden administration pressured tech firms to remove certain content.

YouTube claimed the White House created a political climate aimed at shaping its moderation, though it insisted its policies were enforced independently.

The company said that US conservative creators have a significant role in civic discourse and will be allowed to return under the revised rules. The move highlights Silicon Valley’s broader trend of loosening restrictions on speech, especially under pressure from right-leaning critics.

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Gemini brings conversational AI to Google TV

Google has launched Gemini for TV, bringing conversational AI to the living room. The update builds on Google TV and Google Assistant, letting viewers chat naturally with their screens to discover shows, plan trips, or even tackle homework questions.

Instead of scrolling endlessly, users can ask Gemini to find a film everyone will enjoy or recap last season’s drama. The AI can handle vague requests, like finding ‘that new hospital drama,’ and provide reviews before you press play.

Gemini also turns the TV into an interactive learning tool. From explaining why volcanoes erupt to guiding kids through projects, it offers helpful answers with supporting YouTube videos for hands-on exploration.

Beyond schoolwork, Gemini can help plan meals, teach new skills like guitar, or brainstorm family trips, all through conversational prompts. Such features make the TV a hub for entertainment, education, and inspiration.

Gemini is now available on the TCL QM9K series, with rollout to additional Google TV devices planned for later this year. Google says additional features are coming soon, making TVs more capable and personalised.

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New YouTube AI features make Shorts faster and smarter

YouTube has unveiled a new suite of AI tools designed to enhance the creation of Shorts, with its headline innovation being Veo 3 Fast, a streamlined version of Google DeepMind’s video model.

A system that can generate 480p clips with sound almost instantly, marking the first time audio has been added to Veo-generated Shorts. It is already being rolled out in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with other regions to follow instead of a limited release.

The platform also introduced several advanced editing features, such as motion transfer from video to still images, text-based styling, object insertion and Speech to Song Remixing, which converts spoken dialogue into music through DeepMind’s Lyria 2 model.

Testing will begin in the US before global expansion.

Another innovation, Edit with AI, automatically assembles raw footage into a rough cut complete with transitions, music and interactive voiceovers. YouTube confirmed the tool is in trials and will launch in select markets within weeks instead of years.

All AI-generated Shorts will display labels and watermarks to maintain transparency, as YouTube pushes to expand creator adoption and boost Shorts’ growth as a rival to TikTok and Instagram Reels.

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YouTube launches new AI tools to simplify video creation

YouTube has introduced new AI-powered tools to make video creation more playful and effortless. The features include Veo 3 Fast, a video generation model from Google DeepMind, now integrated into YouTube Shorts.

Veo 3 Fast allows creators to generate videos with sound directly from their phones at 480p, all for free.

New Shorts capabilities let users add motion to photos, apply artistic styles, and insert objects into scenes with simple text prompts. These tools expand creative options and simplify content creation, with YouTube set to test them in the coming months.

The platform also launched Edit with AI, automatically transforming raw footage into a first draft with music, transitions, and voiceovers in English or Hindi. The feature helps creators quickly develop their videos, leaving more time for personalisation and refinement.

In addition, YouTube introduced Speech to Song, enabling users to remix dialogue from eligible videos into catchy soundtracks using Lyria 2, Google DeepMind’s AI music model. All AI-generated content includes SynthID watermarks and content labels to ensure transparency and proper attribution.

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YouTube expands AI dubbing to millions of creators

Real-time translation is becoming a standard feature across consumer tech, with Samsung, Google, and Apple all introducing new tools. Apple’s recently announced Live Translation on AirPods demonstrates the utility of such features, particularly for travellers.

YouTube has joined the trend, expanding its multi-language audio feature to millions of creators worldwide. The tool enables creators to add dubbed audio tracks in multiple languages, powered by Google’s Gemini AI, replicating tone and emotion.

The feature was first tested with creators like MrBeast, Mark Rober, and Jamie Oliver. YouTube reports that Jamie Oliver’s channel saw its views triple, while over 25% of the watch time came from non-primary languages.

Mark Rober’s channel now supports more than 30 languages per video, helping creators reach audiences far beyond their native markets. YouTube states that this expansion should make content more accessible to global viewers and increase overall engagement.

Subtitles will still be vital for people with hearing difficulties, but AI-powered dubbing could reduce reliance on them for language translation. For creators, it marks a significant step towards making content truly global.

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Disney to pay $10 Million to settle allegations of unlawfully collecting childrens personal data

The Walt Disney Company will pay $10 million to settle allegations that it breached children’s privacy laws by mislabelling videos aimed at young audiences on YouTube, allowing personal data to be collected without parental consent.

In a complaint filed by the US Department of Justice, following a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) referral, Disney was accused of incorrectly designing hundreds of child-directed videos as ‘Made for Kids’.

Instead, the company applied a blanket ‘Not Made for Kids’ label at the channel level, enabling YouTube to collect data and serve targeted advertising to viewers under 13, contrary to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

The FTC claims Disney profited through direct ad sales and revenue-sharing with YouTube. Despite being notified by YouTube in 2020 that over 300 videos had been misclassified, Disney did not revise its labelling policy.

Under the proposed settlement, Disney must pay the civil penalty, fully comply with COPPA by obtaining parental consent before data collection, and implement a video review programme to ensure accurate classification, unless YouTube introduces age assurance technologies to determine user age reliably.

“This case underscores the FTC’s commitment to protecting children’s privacy online,” said FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson. “Parents, not corporations like Disney, should decide how their children’s data is collected and used.”

The agreement, which a federal judge must still approve, reflects growing pressure on tech platforms and content creators to safeguard children’s digital privacy.

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Noyb wins GDPR case against Youtube

Austrian digital rights ngo, noyb, has won a case against YouTube after a five-and-a-half-year battle, with the Austrian data protection authority ordering the platform to fully comply with a user’s data access request under Article 15 of the GDPR.

In 2019, privacy group noyb filed eight complaints against major streaming platforms, including YouTube, Spotify, Netflix, Amazon, and Apple Music, for not fully complying with the EU’s data protection law, the GDPR.

Under Article 15 of the GDPR, companies must provide users access to their personal data and explain how it is used, who it’s shared with, and how long it’s stored. But according to noyb, none of the companies responded appropriately.

The case against YouTube, owned by Google, stood out. A user requested their data in 2019 but received only part of it, with important details missing, such as why the data was being processed and who else had access to it.

It took the Austrian data protection authority (DSB) five and a half years to issue a ruling, finally ordering Google to hand over the complete information.

Martin Baumann, a lawyer at noyb, said these delays make it nearly impossible for users to exercise other rights, like correcting or deleting their data. The DSB confirmed that companies must fully answer access requests in a clear, easy-to-understand format.

Simply directing users to tools or privacy policies isn’t enough. Google has four weeks to comply, or it can appeal and continue delaying.

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YouTube under fire for AI video edits without creator consent

Anger grows as YouTube secretly alters some uploaded videos using machine learning. The company admitted that it had been experimenting with automated edits, which sharpen images, smooth skin, and enhance clarity, without notifying creators.

Although tools like ChatGPT or Gemini did not generate these changes, they still relied on AI.

The issue has sparked concern among creators, who argue that the lack of consent undermines trust.

YouTuber Rhett Shull publicly criticised the platform, prompting YouTube liaison Rene Ritchie to clarify that the edits were simply efforts to ‘unblur and denoise’ footage, similar to smartphone processing.

However, creators emphasise that the difference lies in transparency, since phone users know when enhancements are applied, whereas YouTube users were unaware.

Consent remains central to debates around AI adoption, especially as regulation lags and governments push companies to expand their use of the technology.

Critics warn that even minor, automatic edits can treat user videos as training material without permission, raising broader concerns about control and ownership on digital platforms.

YouTube has not confirmed whether the experiment will expand or when it might end.

For now, viewers noticing oddly upscaled Shorts may be seeing the outcome of these hidden edits, which have only fuelled anger about how AI is being introduced into creative spaces.

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AI controversy surrounds Will Smith’s comeback shows

Footage from Will Smith’s comeback tour has sparked claims that AI was used to alter shots of the crowd. Viewers noticed faces appearing blurred or distorted, along with extra fingers and oddly shaped hands in several clips.

Some accused Smith of boosting audience shots with AI, while others pointed to YouTube, which has been reported to apply AI upscaling without creators’ knowledge.

Guitarist and YouTuber Rhett Shull recently suggested the platform had altered his videos, raising concerns that artists might be wrongly accused of using deepfakes.

The controversy comes as the boundary between reality and fabrication grows increasingly uncertain. AI has been reshaping how audiences perceive authenticity, from fake bands to fabricated images of music legends.

Singer SZA is among the artists criticising the technology, highlighting its heavy energy use and potential to undermine creativity.

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YouTube’s AI flags viewers as minors, creators demand safeguards

YouTube’s new AI age check, launched on 13 August 2025, flags suspected minors based on their viewing habits. Over 50,000 creators petitioned against it, calling it ‘AI spying’. The backlash reveals deep tensions between child safety and online anonymity.

Flagged users must verify their age with ID, credit card, or a facial scan. Creators say the policy risks normalising surveillance and shrinking digital freedoms.

SpyCloud’s 2025 report found a 22% jump in stolen identities, raising alarm over data uploads. Critics fear YouTube’s tool could invite hackers. Past scandals over AI-generated content have already hurt creator trust.

Users refer to it on X as a ‘digital ID dragnet’. Many are switching platforms or tweaking content to avoid flags. WebProNews says creators demand opt-outs, transparency, and stronger human oversight of AI systems.

As global regulation tightens, YouTube could shape new norms. Experts urge a balance between safety and privacy. Creators push for deletion rules to avoid identity risks in an increasingly surveilled online world.

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