Governance document

CA-D-000116

YouTube Community Guidelines

YouTube

Last change detected May 5, 2026 Platform policy

SHA-256: 569c9b21e61df7cd02d… 4 versions captured 2 changes documented

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This page describes what the document states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability may vary by jurisdiction. Methodology

18 Total

7 High severity

8 Medium severity

3 Low severity

Key Facts

Can creators appeal if they disagree with YouTube's removal decision?

YouTube allows creators to appeal if they disagree with YouTube's removal decision.

Must creators comply with the YouTube Monetization Policy?

YouTube requires creators to comply with the YouTube Monetization Policy.

Does YouTube disable monetization on videos that violate its advertiser-friendly content guidelines?

YouTube disables monetization on videos that violate its advertiser-friendly content guidelines.

Does YouTube prohibit content that glorifies violent extremist organizations?

YouTube prohibits content that glorifies, promotes, or supports violent extremist organizations or criminal organizations.

Does YouTube prohibit content that promotes criminal organizations?

YouTube prohibits content that glorifies, promotes, or supports violent extremist organizations or criminal organizations.

Does YouTube require creators in the YouTube Partner Program to comply with advertiser-friendly content guidelines?

YouTube requires creators in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) to comply with a set of advertiser-friendly content guidelines.

Must creators meet higher content standards in order to be eligible for the YouTube Partner Program?

YouTube requires creators to meet higher content standards in order to be eligible for the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).

Does YouTube suspend YouTube Partner Program membership for repeat violators?

YouTube suspends YouTube Partner Program membership for creators who are repeat violators.

How does YouTube detect content that violates its Community Guidelines?

YouTube detects content that violates its Community Guidelines through a combination of automated detection methods and manual reporting.

Does YouTube review each channel application before accepting it into the YouTube Partner Program?

YouTube reviews each channel application before accepting it into the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).

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Summary

YouTube's Community Guidelines set the rules for what content is allowed on the platform and how creators can earn money through the YouTube Partner Program. If your video breaks the rules, YouTube can remove it, turn off its monetization, or suspend your YPP membership — and will notify you if any of these actions are taken. If you disagree with a removal, you have the right to appeal.

Analysis

The YouTube Community Guidelines establish a categorical prohibition on content that glorifies, promotes, or supports violent extremist or criminal organizations, with exceptions available for content that is clearly educational, documentary, scientific, or artistic (EDSA) or that serves the public interest. Enforcement is conducted through a combination of automated detection and manual reporting, with YouTube issuing notifications to creators upon video removal or YouTube Partner Program (YPP) suspension. Creators have a right to appeal removal decisions. Monetization is governed by a tiered compliance structure: YPP membership requires meeting elevated content standards and adhering to advertiser-friendly content guidelines, with monetization disabled on violating videos and YPP membership suspended for repeat violators. YouTube reviews each YPP channel application individually, and a formal disclosure framework exists to support creators in disclosing edited or AI-generated content.

What this means for you

For an individual creator, this document means that content glorifying or supporting violent extremist or criminal organizations will be removed, while clearly educational, documentary, scientific, or artistic content may be permitted even if it would otherwise violate the guidelines. Monetization can be disabled on specific videos that violate advertiser-friendly content guidelines, and repeated violations can result in suspension from the YouTube Partner Program. YouTube notifies creators when either action is taken, and creators who disagree with a removal decision can submit an appeal.

Institutional Analysis

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2 important changes detected

4 versions captured · Last updated: May 2026

May 5, 2026

low

What changed YouTube's Community Guidelines were translated from English into Vietnamese on May 5, 2026. The core policy language about how YouTube enforces community standards, handles appeals, and protects advertiser interests remains substantively the same, but the document is now presented in Vietnamese rather than English. This is a localization change, not a policy modification.

Why this matters This change makes YouTube's Community Guidelines accessible to Vietnamese-speaking creators and users who may prefer to review platform policies in their primary language. The substantive rules governing content moderation, creator notifications, appeals processes, and advertiser protections remain unchanged. No action is required from English-speaking users; Vietnamese speakers may now review the same policies in Vietnamese.

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April 24, 2026

medium

What changed YouTube's Community Guidelines now mention that the platform is expanding its likeness detection technology to cover civic leaders and journalists, in addition to existing protections for creators and artists. This addition appears in the introductory section describing YouTube's content protection tools. The change signals YouTube's effort to address deepfakes and synthetic media involving public figures and media professionals.

Why this matters YouTube's updated Community Guidelines now explicitly state the platform is expanding likeness detection technology to protect civic leaders and journalists from deepfakes and synthetic media, not just creators and artists. This broadens the scope of automated protection against manipulated video and audio content. While the change does not alter user obligations or remove rights, it signals that detection and enforcement of synthetic media policies may increase for content involving public figures and professional journalists.

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Featured, High severity

Creator appeal right on removal Compare →

The claim establishes that creators have a right to challenge removal decisions, providing a recourse mechanism against enforcement actions.

Added July 10, 2026 Standard Seen across 290 platforms
Creator must comply with monetization policy Compare →

The claim establishes a mandatory compliance obligation for creators with respect to YouTube's Monetization Policy.

Added July 10, 2026 Common Seen across 125 platforms
Monetization disabled for guideline-violating videos Compare →

The claim establishes that violating advertiser-friendly content guidelines results in the loss of monetization on the affected videos.

Added July 10, 2026 Standard Seen across 277 platforms
Prohibition on violent extremist organization content Compare →

The claim establishes a categorical prohibition on a defined class of content, meaning any such content is subject to removal regardless of context.

Added July 10, 2026 Standard Seen across 245 platforms
YPP advertiser guidelines compliance required Compare →

The claim establishes that YPP membership carries a specific content compliance obligation beyond general Community Guidelines.

Added July 10, 2026 Common Seen across 125 platforms
YPP eligibility criteria for creators Compare →

The claim establishes that YPP eligibility is conditioned on meeting an elevated content standard, not merely the baseline Community Guidelines.

Added July 10, 2026 Common Seen across 125 platforms
YPP suspended for repeat violators Compare →

The claim establishes that repeated policy violations can result in the loss of YPP membership status, with direct consequences for monetization.

Added July 10, 2026 Standard Seen across 277 platforms

Featured, Medium severity

Automated and manual flagging of violations Compare →

The claim establishes that enforcement is not purely human-reviewed, meaning automated systems play a role in flagging content.

Added July 10, 2026 Common Seen across 142 platforms
Channel application reviewed before YPP acceptance Compare →

The claim establishes that YPP admission is not automatic upon meeting stated criteria; each application is subject to a review step.

Added July 10, 2026 Standard Seen across 263 platforms
Creator disclosure of edited or AI content required Compare →

The claim establishes that YouTube has a mechanism to assist creators with disclosure of edited or AI content, indicating a formal disclosure framework exists.

Added July 10, 2026 Standard Seen across 273 platforms
Creator notified on video removal Compare →

The claim establishes a notification obligation on YouTube's part, ensuring creators are informed of two specific enforcement actions taken against them.

Added July 10, 2026 Standard Seen across 277 platforms
EDSA exception to community guidelines Compare →

The claim establishes that Community Guidelines are not absolute; clearly EDSA or public-interest content may be permitted even if it would otherwise violate the guidelines.

Added May 21, 2026 Standard Seen across 245 platforms