YouTube Fights AI Fakes — Two Popular Channels Lose Monetization
YouTube has taken decisive action against misinformation by demonetizing Screen Culture and KH Studio channels. These platforms used artificial intelligence to create and spread fake trailers of popular movies, misleading millions of viewers with their content.
The Scale of the Problem and Film Industry’s Response
The scale of fake trailers on YouTube has reached a critical point, forcing the platform to take decisive action. According to Deadline, two of the largest channels specializing in AI-generated trailers have lost their ability to monetize their videos.
Screen Culture, which has 1.4 billion views and 1.4 million subscribers, used advanced AI technologies to create extremely realistic fakes. A team of 12 editors led by Nihil P. Chaudhari produced up to 12 videos weekly, imitating official trailers for franchises such as ‘Alien,’ ‘Fantastic Four,’ and ‘Superman.’
KH Studio took a different approach, creating alternative versions of popular movies and TV series. Among their most resonant works were videos featuring Henry Cavill as James Bond and Leonardo DiCaprio in ‘Squid Game.’
Interestingly, major film studios, including Warner Bros. Discovery and Sony Pictures, opposed such sanctions. According to Deadline, they would have preferred to earn revenue from these videos through copyright protection mechanisms. However, YouTube remained firm in its decision, citing violations of monetization policies and the spread of misinformation.
The founder of KH Studio stated that the channel’s goal was to entertain viewers with ‘what if’ scenarios, not to mislead them. Meanwhile, Chaudhari from Screen Culture believes that most users understand the unofficial nature of the content and asks: ‘What’s the harm in this?’
YouTube’s decision demonstrates an important step in fighting misinformation and protecting copyright. This could set a precedent for other platforms and influence the future of AI-generated content.
