YouTube Privacy Guidelines

YouTube Privacy Guidelines: Protecting Your Identity

We want you to feel safe when you’re on YouTube. If videos or comments on the site violate your privacy or sense of safety, let us know.

• You can report videos or comments that violate your privacy or sense of safety Content & IP Rights

Our privacy guidelines apply to all users across the world. This means that even if a video doesn't break any privacy laws in your country, it might still violate our guidelines. We aim to protect your privacy while balancing public interest and newsworthiness. If you think content violates our Community Guidelines, you can report the content.

• Privacy guidelines apply to all users worldwide, beyond local privacy law Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
• You can report videos or comments that violate your privacy or sense of safety Content & IP Rights

What can I report as a privacy violation?

Someone shares your image or full name without your permission:

• Sharing your image or full name without permission can be reported as a privacy violation Content & IP Rights

• Your “image” or “full name” refers to images, audio, video footage, or text that uniquely identify you.
• • Sharing your image or full name without permission can be reported as a privacy violation Content & IP Rights
  • You can ask YouTube to remove content that uses your personal info without your consent Content & IP Rights

Someone shares other personal info without your permission. This might include your:

• Sharing other personal information without permission can be reported Content & IP Rights

• Contact info. For example, your home address, email address, or phone number.
• • Sharing other personal information without permission can be reported Content & IP Rights
• Identification info. For example, your social security number or national ID number.
• • Sharing other personal information without permission can be reported Content & IP Rights
• Financial info. For example, your credit card number or bank account number.
• • Sharing other personal information without permission can be reported Content & IP Rights
• Other personal identification info.
• • Sharing other personal information without permission can be reported Content & IP Rights

Someone uses AI or other tools to alter or generate your voice or image without your permission:

• Using AI or other tools to alter or generate your voice or image without permission can be reported Content & IP Rights

• “Altered” or “synthetic” content is content that looks or sounds like you, but was significantly edited or generated by AI.
• • Using AI or other tools to alter or generate your voice or image without permission can be reported Content & IP Rights
• Learn more about altered or synthetic content and what needs to be disclosed by creators.
• • Using AI or other tools to alter or generate your voice or image without permission can be reported Content & IP Rights
  • For synthetic-content complaints, YouTube considers six factors Content & IP Rights
• Examples of someone using AI or other tools to alter or generate your voice or image without permission include:
• • Using AI or other tools to alter or generate your voice or image without permission can be reported Content & IP Rights
• Altering content to replace the face of one person with another person’s
• • Using AI or other tools to alter or generate your voice or image without permission can be reported Content & IP Rights
• Simulating audio to make it sound like a person is saying something they have not said
• • Using AI or other tools to alter or generate your voice or image without permission can be reported Content & IP Rights

Report a privacy violation

• You can report videos or comments that violate your privacy or sense of safety Content & IP Rights

FAQ

What if my concern isn’t about a privacy violation?

If your concern is not a privacy violation, we still want to hear from you.

• If your concern is not a privacy violation, harassment and Community Guidelines reports are other routes Account & Service Control

Are you experiencing harassment?

• If your concern is not a privacy violation, harassment and Community Guidelines reports are other routes Account & Service Control

• If someone maliciously posts a video of you or directs insults at you, these actions may be considered harassment. If someone harasses you, report their content.
• • If your concern is not a privacy violation, harassment and Community Guidelines reports are other routes Account & Service Control

Does the content violate our Community Guidelines?

• If your concern is not a privacy violation, harassment and Community Guidelines reports are other routes Account & Service Control

• Learn how to report inappropriate videos, channels, and other content.
• • If your concern is not a privacy violation, harassment and Community Guidelines reports are other routes Account & Service Control

Did someone copy a video that you created or content that you own?

• Copied videos or content you own go through a copyright complaint Content & IP Rights

• File a copyright complaint.
• • Copied videos or content you own go through a copyright complaint Content & IP Rights

If you feel that you are in physical danger, be sure to contact your local authorities for more assistance.

• If you feel in physical danger, contact local authorities Security & Safeguards

How does YouTube decide if content should be removed for a privacy violation?

• YouTube also weighs public interest, newsworthiness, consent and public availability Content & IP Rights
• You can ask YouTube to remove content that uses your personal info without your consent Content & IP Rights

The individual must be uniquely identifiable in the content. The complaint from the individual or their legal representative must uniquely identify the individual. This can be through a combination of image, voice, full name, government identification number, or other uniquely identifiable info. We also consider public interest, newsworthiness, consent, and whether the information is otherwise publicly available. We reserve the right to make the final decision about whether a violation of our Privacy Guidelines occurred.

• Removal requires that the person is uniquely identifiable and the complaint identifies them Content & IP Rights
• YouTube also weighs public interest, newsworthiness, consent and public availability Content & IP Rights
• YouTube reserves the final decision on whether a violation occurred Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
• You can ask YouTube to remove content that uses your personal info without your consent Content & IP Rights

What does uniquely identifiable mean?

• Uniquely identifiable means others could recognize you, not only that you can Content & IP Rights

“Uniquely identifiable” means that there’s enough info in the video that allows others to recognize you. You may be able to identify yourself in the video, but that doesn’t mean that you're uniquely identifiable to others. A first name without additional context, or a fleeting image, would not likely qualify as uniquely identifiable.

• Uniquely identifiable means others could recognize you, not only that you can Content & IP Rights

How does the privacy process work?

When a privacy complaint is filed, we may give the creator time to remove or edit the private info in their video. During this time, the creator can use the Trim or Blur tools in YouTube Studio to edit the video. If the creator removes the video, we’ll close the complaint. If the potential privacy violation remains on YouTube, we’ll review the complaint.

• After a complaint, the creator may be given time to remove or edit the content Content & IP Rights
• If you receive notice, YouTube may give you time to remove or edit the content Content & IP Rights

How do I report a privacy violation?

If someone uses your personal info without your permission, here are ways to report it:

• You can ask YouTube to remove content that uses your personal info without your consent Content & IP Rights

Report content that uses your personal info

• You can ask YouTube to remove content that uses your personal info without your consent Content & IP Rights

You can ask us to remove content that uses your name, photo, or other private details without your consent.

• You can ask YouTube to remove content that uses your personal info without your consent Content & IP Rights

Report AI-generated or other synthetic content that looks or sounds like you

• You can ask YouTube to remove AI-altered or synthetic content that looks or sounds like you Content & IP Rights

If someone has used AI to alter or create synthetic content that looks or sounds like you, you can ask us to remove it To qualify for removal, the content should show a realistic altered or synthetic version of your likeness.

• You can ask YouTube to remove AI-altered or synthetic content that looks or sounds like you Content & IP Rights

When we review your complaint, we'll consider whether:

• For synthetic-content complaints, YouTube considers six factors Content & IP Rights

• The content is altered or synthetic.
• • For synthetic-content complaints, YouTube considers six factors Content & IP Rights
• The content is disclosed to viewers as altered or synthetic.
• • For synthetic-content complaints, YouTube considers six factors Content & IP Rights
• The person can be uniquely identified.
• • For synthetic-content complaints, YouTube considers six factors Content & IP Rights
• The content is realistic.
• • For synthetic-content complaints, YouTube considers six factors Content & IP Rights
• The content contains parody, satire, or other public interest value.
• • For synthetic-content complaints, YouTube considers six factors Content & IP Rights
• The content features a public figure or well-known individual engaging in a sensitive behavior, such as criminal activity, violence, or endorsing a product or political candidate.
• • For synthetic-content complaints, YouTube considers six factors Content & IP Rights

Learn more about altered or synthetic content labels.

• For synthetic-content complaints, YouTube considers six factors Content & IP Rights

Your privacy during the complaint process

• YouTube does not share your name or contact info with the person who posted the content Sharing & Disclosure

We take your privacy seriously. When you report a privacy violation, we won’t share your name or contact info with the person who posted the content. We'll send updates or may request additional info to the email address you provide in the complaint form.

• YouTube does not share your name or contact info with the person who posted the content Sharing & Disclosure

Privacy complaint tips

First-party claims are required

• Complaints on behalf of third parties are accepted only in five listed situations Legal Rights & Agreement Rules

We do not accept claims made on behalf of third parties except when:

• Complaints on behalf of third parties are accepted only in five listed situations Legal Rights & Agreement Rules

• The individual whose privacy is being violated does not have access to a computer or the internet.
• • Complaints on behalf of third parties are accepted only in five listed situations Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
• The individual whose privacy is being violated is a vulnerable individual.
• • Complaints on behalf of third parties are accepted only in five listed situations Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
• The parent or legal guardian of the individual whose privacy is being violated makes the claim.
• • Complaints on behalf of third parties are accepted only in five listed situations Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
• A legal representative for the individual whose privacy is being violated makes the claim.
• • Complaints on behalf of third parties are accepted only in five listed situations Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
• A close family member makes the claim for a deceased individual.
• • Complaints on behalf of third parties are accepted only in five listed situations Legal Rights & Agreement Rules

We will not accept privacy complaints filed for:

• Privacy complaints are not accepted for other family members, coworkers or employees, or a company Legal Rights & Agreement Rules

• Other family members. For example, a husband, wife, cousin, brother, or sister.
• • Privacy complaints are not accepted for other family members, coworkers or employees, or a company Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
• Coworkers or employees. Individuals must submit a report themselves.
• • Privacy complaints are not accepted for other family members, coworkers or employees, or a company Legal Rights & Agreement Rules
• A company.
• • Privacy complaints are not accepted for other family members, coworkers or employees, or a company Legal Rights & Agreement Rules

File a complete privacy complaint

• A complete privacy complaint identifies you, where you appear and the video URL Content & IP Rights

• Be clear and concise so that we can identify you in the video.
• • A complete privacy complaint identifies you, where you appear and the video URL Content & IP Rights
• Use timestamps to indicate all places where you appear in the video.
• • A complete privacy complaint identifies you, where you appear and the video URL Content & IP Rights
• In the description area, specify what you are wearing or doing that differentiates you from others within the video.
• • A complete privacy complaint identifies you, where you appear and the video URL Content & IP Rights
• Make sure to include the video URL in your report. If you're reporting an entire channel, you're not required to submit a URL.
• • A complete privacy complaint identifies you, where you appear and the video URL Content & IP Rights
• If you are reporting a comment made in the comments section of a video, note it in the description area. Include the commenter's username in the username field.
• • To report a comment, note it in the description and give the commenter's username Content & IP Rights

I received notice of a privacy violation

• If you receive notice, YouTube may give you time to remove or edit the content Content & IP Rights

At our discretion, we may give you an opportunity to remove or edit the private info in your video. In this case, we email you about the potential violation and give you time to act on the complaint. If you remove the alleged violation from the site within this time, we’ll close the filed complaint. If the potential privacy violation remains on the site after this time, we’ll review the complaint.

• If you receive notice, YouTube may give you time to remove or edit the content Content & IP Rights

If we remove your video for a privacy violation, do not upload another version featuring the same people. These people will likely file another privacy complaint or report you for harassment. We're serious about protecting our users and suspend accounts that violate people's privacy.

• After a removal, do not upload another version featuring the same people Content & IP Rights
• YouTube says it suspends accounts that violate people's privacy Account & Service Control

How can I act on the complaint?

• Creators can act on a complaint by removing the content, editing details, or blurring faces Content & IP Rights

• You can remove the reported content completely from YouTube.
• • Creators can act on a complaint by removing the content, editing details, or blurring faces Content & IP Rights
• If someone's full name or other personal info is listed in the title, description, or tags of your video, you can edit the video details.
• • Creators can act on a complaint by removing the content, editing details, or blurring faces Content & IP Rights
• You can blur the faces of individuals who appear in the video.
• • Creators can act on a complaint by removing the content, editing details, or blurring faces Content & IP Rights

Incomplete methods of removal are not acceptable and include:

• Making a video private is not an acceptable way to remove the violation Content & IP Rights

• Making a video private. This isn’t acceptable because you can change the status from private to public at any time.
• • Making a video private is not an acceptable way to remove the violation Content & IP Rights