• TikTok has updated its community guidelines to expressly forbid deepfakes from being uploaded without indication they aren’t real.
• Users can use public figures in synthetic media if that media isn’t being used for nefarious reasons.
• No deepfakes of private individuals may be shared on TikTok.

The popularity of AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Midjourney are advancing those platforms as they are fed evermore data from millions of users.

Just yesterday we saw AI generated images of former President Donald Trump being arrested, even though as of time of writing, the reality TV star is still a free man.

As AI platforms get better, the ability to tell at a glance that an image is fake is going to get tougher and social media platforms need to be aware of how quickly and easily false images can be spread.

In a bid to get ahead of these problems, TikTok has announced new rules which go into effect on 21st April.

“We welcome the creativity that new artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital technologies may unlock. However, AI can make it more difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction, carrying both societal and individual risks,” reads the updated community guidelines.

As such TikTok says that synthetic or manipulated media that shows realistic scenes must be clearly disclosed by uploaders. This can be done through the use of a sticker or caption, such as ‘synthetic’, ‘fake’, ‘not real’, or ‘altered’.

However, synthetic or manipulated content that features a private individual isn’t allowed. The platform says that it will allow media that features public figures however, should that content be an endorsement or violate one of TikTok’s other policies the content will be in contravention of these guidelines.

“While we provide more latitude for public figures, we do not want them to be the subject of abuse, or for people to be misled about political or financial issues,” writes TikTok.

The global head of Product Policy at TikTok, Julie de Bailliencourt also outlined how the platform will moderate content:

• Remove violative content,
• Age-restrict mature content so it only viewed by adults 18-years old or older,
• Make content ineligible for recommendation on the For You page if it isn’t suitable for a broad audience.

“We’re proud to be sharing these refreshed Community Guidelines offering our community much more transparency about our rules and how we enforce them. It takes a whole village to keep people safe online, so we’re grateful to everyone in the TikTok community and to all of the external experts who have contributed and continue to help us advance our rules and stay a step ahead of emerging threats,” de Bailliencourt wrote in a press release.

While this is a good move from TikTok, the platform will have to explore the implementation of deepfake detection technology. Updating the rules and community guidelines is all fine and well but as we know, these rules and guidelines mean little to nothing to bad actors who want to spread misinformation, foment fear and divide society.