OtherVerified
Reviewed and published by trentmaziarz, May 11, 2026. Discovered and drafted by our automated research pipeline.
DeviantArt deployed DeviantArt Protect, an AI-powered image recognition tool launched in July 2021 that scans for near-identical copies of a member's artwork uploaded by others on the platform and, later, minted as NFTs on public blockchains.
Details
DeviantArt Protect uses machine learning-based image recognition to identify images nearly identical to artworks already in a member's gallery. When a potential match is found, the artist receives a notification and can choose to file a DMCA takedown request. Human members of the Customer Support team review each match before a notification is sent, providing quality assurance. The tool was expanded in May 2022 to scan eight public blockchains (including Ethereum, Polygon, Tezos, and Flow) for NFTs that match DeviantArt members' artwork. Core Members receive unlimited ongoing monitoring; free users receive three months of coverage. DeviantArt Protect does not automatically remove content; the user decides whether to take action.
Products affected
DeviantArt Protect
Sources & Evidence
News Article
Company Disclosure
Cite this record
Trace Foundation. (2026). DeviantArt: DeviantArt deployed DeviantArt Protect, an AI-powered image recognition tool launched in July 2021 that scans for near-identical copies of a member's artwork uploaded by others on the platform and, later, minted as NFTs on public blockchains (data as of 2026-05-11) [Data set record]. AI Trace. https://www.aitrace.org/r/practice/cbd46602-31c5-436f-8d22-69a40a32467c. Accessed October 4, 2026.
- Stable link
- https://www.aitrace.org/r/practice/cbd46602-31c5-436f-8d22-69a40a32467c
- Data as of
- May 11, 2026
- Last verified
- Not recorded
Other practices by DeviantArt
ModerationDeviantArt deployed technology to help its human moderation team proactively identify content that violates site policies before it is reported, shifting from a previously reactive moderation approach. DeviantArt has stated that AI does not take automatic action and that human moderators make all final decisions.ModerationDeviantArt uses an AI detection system to automatically identify artwork created with AI tools, supplementing a mandatory user labeling requirement that went into effect in June 2023. Detected or labeled AI art can be suppressed from a user's browsing feed at their discretion.Creative GenDeviantArt offers Video Creator, an AI-powered tool launched in March 2026 that turns text prompts or uploaded artwork into short videos, available to users directly within DeviantArt Studio.
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