Hajra Naz
Social media users have discovered a controversial capability of Google’s new Gemini AI model: the ability to remove watermarks from images, including those from major stock media platforms like Getty Images.
Last week, Google expanded access to the image generation feature in its Gemini 2.0 Flash model, allowing users to create and edit images seamlessly. While undeniably powerful, this feature appears to have few restrictions. Gemini 2.0 Flash can generate images of celebrities and copyrighted characters— and, as users have demonstrated, remove watermarks from existing photos.
AI That Fills in the Gaps
Posts on X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit highlight that Gemini 2.0 Flash doesn’t just erase watermarks—it also reconstructs the missing image details. While other AI tools offer similar functionality, Gemini 2.0 Flash stands out for its accuracy and accessibility, as it is currently free to use through Google’s AI Studio.
“New skill unlocked: Gemini 2 Flash model is really awesome at removing watermarks in images!” — User @deedydas on X
Interestingly, the model sometimes replaces removed watermarks with a subtle watermark of its own—raising even more questions about its design and intended use.
Not Perfect, But Still Concerning
Google has labeled the Gemini 2.0 Flash’s image generation feature as ‘experimental’ and ‘not for production use’, limiting its availability to developer-facing tools like AI Studio. Moreover, the model struggles with semi-transparent watermarks and those covering large portions of an image.
Still, copyright holders are likely to raise concerns. Competing AI models like Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet and OpenAI’s GPT-4o explicitly refuse to remove watermarks, citing ethical and legal risks. Under U.S. copyright law, removing a watermark without the owner’s consent is considered illegal except in rare cases.
Google’s Response
Google has not immediately responded to concerns raised by users. However, a company spokesperson later issued a statement emphasizing that using Google’s AI tools to violate copyright laws breaches the company’s terms of service:
“As with all experimental releases, we’re monitoring closely and listening for developer feedback.”
As AI continues to evolve, the debate over intellectual property and digital rights is only intensifying. Google’s approach to moderating AI-generated content will be closely watched, especially as regulators and content creators weigh in on the ethical and legal implications.
