Google has stopped monetization on two major YouTube channels that were publishing fake movie trailers created by neural networks. This was reported by Deadline.
Screen Culture and KH Studio channels have lost advertising revenue due to violations of content monetization policies. Screen Culture has over 1.4 million subscribers and more than 2,800 videos, while KH Studio has 686,000 subscribers and 629 videos. Both channels create content using neural networks and design their thumbnails and other visuals to closely resemble official trailers. Often, these AI-generated works appear higher in search results than real previews. YouTube representatives declined to comment on why this is happening.
The creator of KH Studio stated that he “invests everything” in creating AI videos to show alternative “what if” scenarios for fans, and not to pass off his work as real trailers. Therefore, he finds it difficult to see YouTube recognize his videos as “misleading content.” The author of Screen Culture noted that he does not present his videos as real, and that “originals can be found on official channels.” He also believes that he does not harm those who mistakenly take neural network trailers for real ones.
Earlier, Deadline revealed that major film companies are trying to monetize such channels with AI trailers. Warner Bros. Discovery, Sony, Paramount Pictures, and others have allegedly agreed with YouTube to receive a percentage of advertising revenue from these channels, including Screen Culture.