A recent discovery on social media has shed light on a contentious application of Google’s new Gemini AI model: its ability to remove watermarks from images, including those from reputable stock media companies like Getty Images.
Last week, Google expanded access to the image generation feature of its Gemini 2.0 Flash model, allowing the model to natively generate and edit image content. This feature is reportedly powerful and capable, but it appears to lack sufficient safeguards. Gemini 2.0 Flash can create images featuring celebrities and copyrighted characters, and, as previously mentioned, remove watermarks from existing photographs.
I’ve discovered a new skill: the Gemini 2 Flash model excels at removing watermarks from images! pic.twitter.com/6QIk0FlfCv
— Deedy (@deedydas) March 15, 2025
Several users on X and Reddit have noted that Gemini 2.0 Flash not only removes watermarks but also attempts to fill in any gaps left by the deletion. While other AI-powered tools offer similar functionality, Gemini 2.0 Flash seems to be exceptionally skilled at it and is available for free.
Gemini 2.0 Flash, accessible in Google’s AI studio, excels at editing images using simple text prompts.
It can also remove watermarks from images (and replaces them with its own subtle watermark 🤣) pic.twitter.com/ZnHTQJsT1Z
— Tanay Jaipuria (@tanayj) March 16, 2025
It is essential to note that the image generation feature of Gemini 2.0 Flash is currently labeled as “experimental” and “not for production use.” It is only available in Google’s developer-facing tools, such as AI Studio. Additionally, the model is not perfect and struggles with certain semi-transparent watermarks and watermarks that cover large areas of images.
Despite its limitations, the lack of usage restrictions in Gemini 2.0 Flash may raise concerns among copyright holders. In contrast, models like Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet and OpenAI’s GPT-4o explicitly refuse to remove watermarks, with Claude considering it “unethical and potentially illegal.”
According to law firms and online resources, removing a watermark without the original owner’s consent is considered illegal under U.S. copyright law, except in rare cases.
Google has not responded to a request for comment sent outside of normal business hours.
