TikTok to Label AI-Generated Content to Reduce Misinformation

TikTok will start automatically labeling AI-generated content uploaded to the social media platform in a bid to combat misinformation.

“AI enables incredible creative opportunities but can confuse or mislead viewers if they don't know content was AI-generated,” according to a company announcement. “Labeling helps make that context clear.”

The social media platform already places similar labels on generated content made in the TikTok app, including its AI Art tool which reimagines existing images.

TikTok will now automatically scan for synthetic content, like the fake Meta Gala images of Katy Perry and Rihanna, while also encouraging users to disclose when they upload such content.

The company has brought in Content Credentials, a technology developed by the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) that attaches metadata to a piece of content, allowing the app to instantly recognize if a piece of content is AI-generated.

Credit: TikTok

The feature has started rolling out but currently only applies to images and videos. TikTok plans to expand the tool to audio-only content soon, it says.

Content Credentials will remain attached to TikToks even if they’re downloaded, meaning the content can be marked as AI-generated if it’s later reuploaded to the platform.

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It will also be labeled as AI-generated by other platforms that have adopted the C2PA tool, including Adobe, which developed the technology, as well as Microsoft, Nikon and Truepic.

“With TikTok’s vast community of creators and users globally, we are thrilled to welcome them to both the C2PA and CAI as they embark on the journey to provide more transparency and authenticity on the platform,” said Dana Rao, Adobe’s general counsel and chief trust officer. “At a time when any digital content can be altered, it is essential to provide ways for the public to discern what is true. [The] announcement is a critical step towards achieving that outcome.”

Meta announced in early April it would automatically add a “Made with AI” label to synthetic content uploaded to apps including Instagram and Facebook to improve transparency by providing additional context to users, though it’s using its own detection technologies.

To help its users further understand the labeling process, TikTok has launched a library of media resources to help users comprehend the changes.