X Twitter imposes heavy penalties for AI fake videos; war video creators may face permanent suspension of earnings

X, the social platform under Elon Musk, announced an update to its creator monetization policy, stipulating that creators who post AI-generated videos depicting armed conflicts without clearly disclosing the source will be suspended from participating in the “Creator Revenue Sharing” program for 90 days; repeat violations will result in the permanent removal of all monetization privileges. X product lead Nikita Bier stated that this policy update aims to maintain the authenticity of content on the timeline.

Core Provisions of the New Policy: Tiered Penalty System and Trigger Conditions

X’s creator revenue sharing program allows eligible accounts to earn income based on post interactions and subscription engagement, primarily deriving revenue from interactions by X Premium paid users, rather than traditional ad revenue sharing. The new policy explicitly incorporates the obligation to disclose AI-generated content as a condition for monetization eligibility:

First violation: Suspension from the “Creator Revenue Sharing” program for 90 days

Repeated violations: Permanent removal of all monetization privileges on X

Trigger condition: Posting videos related to armed conflict or war that are identified as AI-generated and failing to actively disclose the AI source

Nikita Bier pointed out that during times of war and conflict, obtaining real-time on-the-ground information is critically important. As generative AI tools become more widespread, the cost of producing highly realistic fictional battlefield images has significantly decreased. The platform has decided to implement a system that directly impacts creators’ earnings to strengthen incentives for compliance.

Background of the Trigger: Large-Scale Spread of AI Fake Videos During Middle East Conflict

The immediate background for this policy update is the recent outbreak of armed conflict in the Middle East, during which numerous videos claiming to be from the battlefield rapidly circulated on X and other social platforms, some later confirmed to be AI-synthesized content.

One such video showing the Burj Khalifa in Dubai being bombed amassed over 8 million views on X. A different version of the same content also received about 42,000 views on Instagram. Both were verified as AI-generated images, not real battlefield footage.

This is not the first occurrence of such issues. During Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a video circulated online showing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calling for surrender, which was later confirmed to be a deepfake. Zelensky also issued a statement denying the authenticity. The United Nations has explicitly warned that deepfake and AI-generated media pose serious threats to global information credibility, especially in conflict zones where fabricated images can be widely disseminated to incite hatred or mislead public opinion.

Detection Mechanisms: Metadata, Technical Traces, and Community Notes

To enforce the new policy, X announced it will integrate multiple detection methods, including analyzing embedded metadata in videos, identifying technical traces left by generative AI tools, and utilizing the platform’s “Community Notes” fact-checking system. If a post is flagged by the community as AI-generated but the creator fails to disclose the source proactively, the platform can initiate an investigation and impose sanctions accordingly.

Nikita Bier emphasized that linking penalties directly to monetization aims to fundamentally reduce creators’ incentives to use fake images for traffic and revenue. X stated that it will continue to adjust related policies to ensure the overall credibility of information on the platform during major conflicts or emergencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What specific penalties does X Twitter impose for AI war videos?
A: According to X’s latest creator revenue policy, the first violation—posting AI-generated war videos without source disclosure—will result in a 90-day suspension from the “Creator Revenue Sharing” program. Repeated violations will lead to the permanent removal of all creator monetization privileges on X.

Q: How does X detect undisclosed AI-generated war videos?
A: X will utilize three detection methods: analyzing embedded metadata in videos, identifying technical traces from generative AI tools, and leveraging the “Community Notes” fact-checking system. If a post is flagged by the community as AI-generated and the creator does not disclose the source, the platform will investigate and take appropriate action.

Q: What is the source of income for creators in X’s revenue sharing program?
A: X’s “Creator Revenue Sharing” allows eligible accounts to earn based on post interactions and subscriptions, mainly from interactions by X Premium paid users, rather than traditional ad revenue. Creators must meet specific eligibility criteria to participate; failure to disclose AI origins will result in loss of participation rights.