The document states that content praising, promoting, or aiding violent extremist or criminal organizations is prohibited, and that YouTube uses government and international organization designations, among other factors, to classify what constitutes such organizations.
This analysis describes what YouTube's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This provision establishes that YouTube's content classification for violent extremism and criminal organizations is partly derived from external government and international designation lists. The document does not specify which designation lists are used, which governments are included, or how disputes over classification are resolved.
Interpretive note: The document does not specify which government or international organization designation lists YouTube relies upon, creating ambiguity about geographic scope and classification consistency.
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.
View change record →Under this clause, content involving organizations designated by governments or international bodies as criminal or terrorist may be subject to removal. The document does not specify which designation lists apply or how creators can contest a classification determination.
Cross-platform context
See how other platforms handle Terrorist and Criminal Organization Content Classification and similar clauses.
Compare across platforms →"Content that's meant to praise, promote, or aid violent extremist or criminal organizations is not allowed on YouTube. We rely on many factors — like certain government and international organization designations — to determine what constitutes criminal or terrorist organizations.Excerpt from YouTube's Community Guidelines
(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages the EU Terrorist Content Online Regulation (TERREG), which requires platforms to remove terrorist content within one hour of a government removal order and establishes transparency reporting obligations.
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This provision establishes that YouTube's content classification for violent extremism and criminal organizations is partly derived from external government and international designation lists. The document does not specify which designation lists are used, which governments are included, or how disputes over classification are resolved.
Under this clause, content involving organizations designated by governments or international bodies as criminal or terrorist may be subject to removal. The document does not specify which designation lists apply or how creators can contest a classification determination.
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