TikTok has launched a new feature called “Meme Remixer” that lets people use artificial intelligence to edit and change videos(including videos of other creators). The platform started testing it this month with selected users in the United States of America.
The tool basically lets anyone take your video and use AI to change it, they can alter your face, your voice, or even put you in a completely different location. For example, someone could take a video you filmed in a coffee shop and use AI to make it look like you’re on a beach instead. Or worse, make it seem like you said something you never actually said.
The big issue is how TikTok rolled this out. The company automatically turned on a setting called “Allow AI to remix content” for literally every video ever posted on the platform, even videos from years ago. No permission sought. No one got a warning email. Most creators didn’t even know it happened.
To turn it off, creators have to go into each video individually, click the menu, find the privacy settings, and flip the switch off. One video at a time. There’s no quick way to disable it for all your videos at once. Some creators say they spent hours going back through thousands of old posts just to protect themselves.
Many are angry because they feel like they lost control of their own images and voice. They’re worried about deepfakes and fake videos being made without their permission. However, some marketing experts say the concerns might be a bit overblown. TikTok is yet to explain what the feature does or why it was turned on automatically for everyone. For creators, it’s another reminder that social media platforms can change the rules whenever they want.
