A Ruckus in the Wild West: CivitAI's New Policies Send Waves of Discontent
AI Art Platform, Civitai, Sparks Backlash Over Prohibition of Explicit Content
Once hailed as the Wild West of AI-generated art, CivitAI triggered a storm of discontent among its user base last month with the rollout of its fresh content guidelines. While the site wasn't a porn hub per se, it did cater to several NSFW communities, such as furries, adult-oriented anime, and extreme BDSM enthusiasts.
The new rules, drafted to comply with the growing scrutiny surrounding AI content, ban categories like incest, self-harm, diaper, and specific bodily excretions [1]. Additionally, all NSFW uploads now require metadata to stay visible. A newly-introduced moderation system aims to enhance content tagging and safety.
These new regulations have effectively wiped out the popular content that appealed to certain user segments. The updates have also severely affected the monetization options for images featuring real people, particularly celebrities [2]. Creators aren't too thrilled about losing the option to download resources and generate their weirdest fantasies [4]. With over 950 adverse reactions against just 375 supporting votes on CivitAI's post, it's clear that not everyone is pleased with the changes [3].
Fans and users of CivitAI, especially those considering quitting, should know the measures taken are a necessity. The platform must ensure compliance with external demands, secure funding, and remain in operation or face shutdown [6]. But they can't help but feel betrayed, as they fear more regulation looming over mildly risqué content [7].
Panic-downloading has become a new trend, with communities springing up to archive potentially endangered content [4]. Meanwhile, frustrated users are also shifting toward local AI generation tools for greater creative freedom [5]. Some have taken the decentralized route, advocating for sharing their models, resources, and LoRas via torrents.
Top sites to search for deleted models include TensorArt, DiffusionArc, and the CivitAI Archive [5]. Desperate users are even scouring the internet for less stringent alternatives to ride the wave of their creativity.
Edited by Josh Quittner and Sebastian Sinclair
A Glimpse into the Future: Unraveling the Reasons Behind CivitAI's Stricter Content Policies
CivitAI's decision to impose stricter content policies is likely driven by the mounting pressure from regulatory bodies, lawmakers, and the general public on AI content platforms to guarantee safety, legality, and accountability. The new rules reflect broader societal and regulatory pressures aimed at controlling sensitive and potentially harmful content [1].
Changes such as banning specific content categories, imposing metadata requirements, and tightening regulations related to deepfakes involving real individuals are designed to increase accountability and mitigate risks [1][5]. Notably, influential financial institutions like Mastercard and Visa have put the squeeze on content platforms like CivitAI [5].
The associated community response is likely mixed, but the new policies aim to create a safer and more compliant platform for its users while safeguarding its long-term success. However, more explicit details on the community's reactions are not readily available [1][5].
Key Policy Changes
- Content Bans: CivitAI has banned content related to incest, self-harm, diaper, and specific bodily excretions.
- Metadata Requirements: All NSFW content must include metadata to remain visible.
- Deepfake Regulations: Content with real individuals' names or themes of minors will not appear in public feeds, and monetization options for such content are limited [5].
- Enhanced Moderation: New moderation systems and reporting tools have been introduced to improve content safety and accountability [1][5].
In light of these changes, other AI content platforms may face similar demands, as the industry as a whole gets pulled under the regulatory microscope.
In the wake of CivitAI's stricter content policies, social media platforms and even entertainment industries might feel the pressure as well, with a growing emphasis on policy-and-legislation that encourages safety, legality, and accountability in AI content [1]. As a result, we might witness a shift towards decentralized platforms for greater creative freedom, with users sharing their models, resources, and LoRas via torrents [4]. With the general news landscape increasingly focused on these issues, the future of AI-generated content could be deeply influenced by politics and policy-and-legislation [6].
The ban on specific content categories, such as incest, self-harm, diaper, and specific bodily excretions, along with metadata requirements for NSFW content, ensures compliance with external demands and helps secure funding for the platform [1]. Furthermore, tightened regulations related to deepfakes involving real individuals aim at increasing accountability and mitigating risks [1][5].
These changes, although potentially disheartening for some users, are intended to create a safer environment on CivitAI and safeguard its long-term success [5]. As the debate around the role of AI content platforms in society continues, it is essential to consider the ethical implications in entertainment, social-media, and other relevant sectors [7].
In the end, these stricter policies may lead to a transformation in the way AI content is managed, with more regulation likely to emerge in the world of web3 and beyond.
