This launch comes in response to persistent complaints from content creators who have been asserting for years that their videos are republished without permission.
According to the company, the new tool allows for the identification of any original short videos “Reels” that are copied partially or entirely across Facebook or Instagram. Content creators registered in the service will be able to see the accounts that have republished their work and take appropriate action regarding the clip.
These actions include the “Track” option, which adds a tag indicating that the clip is taken from the original content creator’s account with a direct link to it, as well as the ability to monitor the number of views. They can also block the clip entirely to prevent others from watching it, without imposing additional penalties on the account that reposted it. The tool also allows for the “Release” option for the clip, which removes it from the dashboard, meaning that the content creator will not be able to track its performance afterward.
The dashboard also provides additional information to help in decision-making, such as knowing whether the account that copied the clip is profiting from it, which is a factor that may prompt the content creator to either track it with attribution or block it completely. On the other hand, if the account that reposted the clip has few followers, the content creator may simply monitor it.
Meta clarifies that it had previously provided some of these features to Facebook content creators through the “Rights Manager” platform, but integrating them directly into the Facebook app makes their use more widespread. However, the company emphasizes that the “Content Protection” tool is currently only available for original clips posted on Facebook, even if it is able to detect copies posted on Instagram.
The company indicates that the tool has begun to reach content creators who are part of the monetization program and who meet the standards of integrity and originality, as well as existing users of the “Rights Manager” platform. Content creators can also submit a request to obtain access directly.
