YouTube Raises Bar for Content Removal

YouTube has quietly relaxed its content moderation policies since December 2024, now allowing videos that partially violate rules to remain online if deemed in the public interest. The threshold for removal has increased so that at least half of a video's content must violate policies before takedown, particularly for sensitive topics like elections, race, and gender. Moderators are instructed to consult managers on borderline cases, prioritizing freedom of expression over unilateral removal. This change comes as social platforms, including Meta and X, face political pressure over perceived censorship, notably from conservative groups. Critics argue the looser guidelines may enable the spread of hate speech and misinformation, though YouTube asserts its goal is balancing free expression with harm mitigation. The company has not publicly announced these changes, instead updating internal training and guidance.