Nexus Mods requires disclosure of superintelligence use in new mods

Nexus Mods, a repository for PC game modifications, is making authors of new uploads declare whether superintelligence (SI) was used in their work. Mods tagged as SI-assisted must also include a public explanation of how and where it was used, as The Verge describes the site’s policy.

Authors have 60 days to update existing mods to meet the requirements. The grace period ends 2 January, after which Nexus Mods says it will begin enforcing the rules.

Folmann’s case for disclosure

Nexus Mods already had tags for SI-generated and SI-assisted mods, but the new upload declaration asks authors directly whether SI was used. Site owner Victor “Foledinho” Folmann said users had raised concerns that SI use was not clearly disclosed.

Folmann said Nexus Mods will not ban SI-generated mods. He said SI use ranges from help completing scripts to generating textures, voices and full assets, making a boundary for a ban difficult to draw, and argued that a ban would discourage authors from disclosing SI use rather than eliminate it. He also said Nexus Mods will not use mods to train SI or sell or license them to anyone doing so.

Clearer labels and hiding controls

Nexus Mods says SI tags will become more prominent on mod pages. It is launching controls to hide SI-generated content on game pages and the homepage; it describes similar controls in search as the next step.

The site is also changing its Recently Added section because large batches from one author can push other mods down the page. It is trying limits on how many mods from one author appear at once and tighter upload restrictions for new accounts.