Civitai Removes Real-Person Likeness Content to Comply with New Global Regulations

Civitai is implementing a significant policy update to address growing regulatory concerns over the depiction of real people in AI-generated content. Starting this week, all models and images that resemble real-world individuals will be removed from the platform. This removal encompasses any representation of public figures, celebrities, influencers, and private individuals, regardless of the context or rating, even if the content is categorized as PG or PG-13. For instance, fan art depicting characters played by celebrities, such as Indiana Jones (portrayed by Harrison Ford), will also be taken down. Why is this happening now? The decision, although difficult, was driven by the need to comply with increasingly stringent regulations in multiple jurisdictions. In the United States, President Trump recently signed the Take It Down Act into law, which specifically targets the use of real-person likenesses without consent. Similarly, the European Union's AI Act, the first comprehensive regulation on artificial intelligence, includes provisions aimed at preventing the creation and distribution of synthetic media and deepfakes that impersonate real individuals. Governments worldwide are tightening their regulations to combat issues related to identity misuse, non-consensual imagery, and AI-based impersonations. The practical implications for creators and users of Civitai are significant. To remain a publicly accessible platform and continue providing essential monetization tools for creators, Civitai must adhere to these new legal requirements. Consequently, the Terms of Service and Content Guidelines have been updated to reflect this policy change. However, this is not a permanent decision. Civitai remains committed to supporting its community and exploring avenues for reintroducing compliant likeness models. The platform is actively collaborating with industry partners to develop robust consent-verification standards. If successful, these standards could pave the way for the lawful and ethical inclusion of real-person likeness content in the future. Thank you for your understanding during this transition. Your support is crucial as Civitai navigates these complex regulatory challenges and strives to create a safer and more inclusive environment for all users.