Why does GPT-4-Vision trigger safety filters when detecting NSFW images?

Below is an explanation regarding your experience:

Why the Error Occurs

The error message “Your input image may contain content that is not allowed by our safety system.” comes from our built‐in content moderation safeguards. These safeguards are designed to prevent both the generation and processing of content that might be deemed unsafe or in violation of our content policies—even when your intent is to detect or label such content.

Moderation vs. Detection

• Content Generation vs. Detection:
  The moderation system is primarily intended to prevent the creation or processing of potentially harmful or explicit content. While your prompt is aimed at detecting NSFW content, the system treats the task as involving sensitive material, which then triggers the safety filters.

• NSFW Classification Limitations:
  OpenAI’s models are designed to avoid engaging with or processing content that falls into categories like sexual explicitness. Even though you’re trying to perform a detection task (classifying images as either “PORNOGRAPHY” or “ARTISTIC”), the system doesn’t differentiate between generating NSFW visuals and analyzing existing images. Both scenarios are covered by the same safety protocols.

Best Practices for Detection Tasks

Currently, the safe methods for NSFW content detection involve using designated moderation endpoints provided by OpenAI, rather than crafting a custom prompt for image analysis. These endpoints:

• Use automated checks against defined content policies.
• Return structured responses that indicate whether an image or text violates policy guidelines.

By relying on these dedicated moderation tools, you align with the intended use cases of our APIs while avoiding interference by the broader safety system.

Conclusion

Although detection of explicit content might seem like a benign review task, the moderation system treats such responsibilities with caution. This is why you encounter the safeguard message, even if your purpose is to flag or label NSFW material. For such classification, consider using the official moderation endpoints provided in our API documentation, which are designed to handle these scenarios while respecting our content policies.