The page also says YouTube does not allow misleading impersonation
Directly under the policy title, this saved page includes a paragraph about impersonation rather than violent organizations. It says YouTube does not allow unauthorized impersonation of a person, entity or channel when it may mislead viewers in a way that could harm the YouTube community. Impersonation may include deceptively copying the branding, content or usernames of individuals, channels or entities, and may also include using AI to copy someone's voice or likeness so that a channel appears to be owned or authorized by that person. The paragraph adds that YouTube also enforces trademark holders' rights.
Supporting quotations
YouTube does not allow unauthorized impersonation of a person, entity, or channel that may mislead viewers in a way that could harm the YouTube community.
Impersonation may include deceptively copying the branding, content, or usernames of individuals, channels or entities.
It may also include using AI to copy the voice or likeness of an individual, to make it appear as if the channel is owned or authorized by that individual.
YouTube also enforces trademark holder rights.
Qualifications & exceptions
The rule covers impersonation that is unauthorized and that may mislead viewers in a way that could harm the YouTube community; it does not describe every use of another person's name or likeness.
"May include" lists examples of impersonation; it is not a complete definition.
Not stated here
The page does not explain why an impersonation paragraph appears under the violent extremist or criminal organizations heading. Its placement does not show that impersonation is enforced under this policy.
YouTube's separate impersonation and trademark policies are not supplied, so how trademark holder rights are enforced is not stated here.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Content meant to praise, promote or aid violent extremist or criminal organizations is not allowed
YouTube does not allow content intended to praise, promote or aid violent extremist or criminal organizations. The organizations themselves may not use YouTube for any purpose, recruitment included. The rule turns on the content's intent to praise, promote or aid; YouTube says it may in some cases make exceptions for content with educational, documentary, scientific or artistic context, including content in the public's interest, but that exception is not a pass to praise, promote or aid these organizations.
Supporting quotations
Content intended to praise, promote, or aid violent extremist or criminal organizations is not allowed on YouTube.
These organizations are not allowed to use YouTube for any purpose, including recruitment.
In some cases, we may make exceptions for content with educational, documentary, scientific or artistic context, including content that is in the public’s interest.
This is not a pass to praise, promote, or aid violent extremist or criminal organizations.
Qualifications & exceptions
Exceptions are discretionary ("may make exceptions", "in some cases") and limited to educational, documentary, scientific or artistic context or public-interest content; the exception never permits praising, promoting or aiding these organizations.
Not stated here
The page does not define "violent extremist or criminal organizations" beyond saying YouTube relies on many factors, including government and international designations.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Educational, documentary, scientific, artistic or public-interest content may be allowed with context
If you post content related to terrorism or crime for an educational, documentary, scientific or artistic purpose, YouTube asks you to give enough information in the video or audio itself for viewers to understand the context. Graphic or controversial footage that has enough context may still be age-restricted or shown behind a warning screen. YouTube may also make exceptions for content in the public's interest, such as congressional or parliamentary proceedings, campaign speeches, or debates over ongoing government actions. These are possible exceptions, not guarantees, and they do not allow praising, promoting or aiding violent extremist or criminal organizations.
Supporting quotations
If posting content related to terrorism or crime for an educational, documentary, scientific, or artistic purpose, be mindful to provide enough information in the video or audio itself so viewers understand the context.
Graphic or controversial footage with sufficient context may be subject to age-restrictions or a warning screen.
We may also make exceptions for content that is in the public’s interest, such as congressional or parliamentary proceedings, campaign speeches, or debates over ongoing government actions.
This is not a pass to praise, promote, or aid violent extremist or criminal organizations.
Qualifications & exceptions
The context must be in the video or audio itself, not only elsewhere.
"May be subject to" and "may also make exceptions" mean YouTube decides case by case; sufficient context does not guarantee the content stays up without restrictions.
Not stated here
The page does not say how much context is "enough" or who decides whether content is in the public's interest.
You can report content or a whole channel that violates this policy
If you find content that violates this policy, YouTube asks you to report it. If you have found a few videos or comments you want to report, you can report the channel instead of each item. The page points to separate instructions for reporting Community Guidelines violations.
Supporting quotations
If you find content that violates this policy, report it.
Instructions for reporting violations of our Community Guidelines are available here.
If you've found a few videos or comments that you would like to report, you can report the channel.
Not stated here
The linked reporting instructions are not part of this saved page, so the reporting steps are not supplied here.
Legal Rights & Agreement Rules · Context
If someone is in immediate danger, contact local law enforcement
YouTube says that if you believe anyone is in immediate danger, you should contact your local law enforcement agency right away to report the situation. This is guidance to go beyond reporting on YouTube; the page does not say YouTube itself contacts law enforcement.
Supporting quotations
If you believe anyone is in immediate danger, you should reach out to your local law enforcement agency to report the situation immediately.
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies when you believe anyone is in immediate danger.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Don't post content produced by these organizations, recruiting for them, or depicting hostages
Under this policy you should not post: content produced by violent extremist, criminal or terrorist organizations; content aimed at recruiting new members to those organizations; or content depicting hostages, or posted with the intent to solicit, threaten or intimidate on behalf of a criminal, extremist or terrorist organization. YouTube says the list of descriptions is not complete. Educational, documentary, scientific, artistic or public-interest exceptions may apply in some cases, but never as a pass to praise, promote or aid these organizations.
Supporting quotations
Don’t post content on YouTube if it fits any of the descriptions noted below.
Content produced by violent extremist, criminal, or terrorist organizations
Content aimed at recruiting new members to violent extremist, criminal, or terrorist organizations
Content depicting hostages or posted with the intent to solicit, threaten, or intimidate on behalf of a criminal, extremist, or terrorist organization
Qualifications & exceptions
The hostage item covers any content depicting hostages, while the solicit/threaten/intimidate item requires that intent on behalf of a criminal, extremist or terrorist organization.
Possible context exceptions are discretionary (see the exceptions card).
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Don't praise these organizations' figures, violent acts or symbols in order to promote them
You should not post content that praises or memorializes prominent terrorist, extremist or criminal figures in order to encourage others to carry out acts of violence; content that praises or justifies violent acts carried out by violent extremist, criminal or terrorist organizations; or content that shows those organizations' insignia, logos or symbols in order to praise or promote them. Two of these items depend on purpose: memorializing a figure is covered when it is done to encourage violence, and showing a symbol is covered when it is done to praise or promote the organization.
Supporting quotations
Don’t post content on YouTube if it fits any of the descriptions noted below.
Content praising or memorializing prominent terrorist, extremist, or criminal figures in order to encourage others to carry out acts of violence
Content praising or justifying violent acts carried out by violent extremist, criminal, or terrorist organizations
Content that depicts the insignia, logos, or symbols of violent extremist, criminal, or terrorist organizations in order to praise or promote them
Qualifications & exceptions
Showing insignia, logos or symbols is listed only when it is done in order to praise or promote the organization.
Praising or memorializing a figure is listed when it is done in order to encourage others to carry out acts of violence.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Don't post content that glorifies or promotes violent tragedies such as school shootings
The list of content you should not post also includes content that glorifies or promotes violent tragedies, with school shootings given as an example. Unlike most items on the list, this one is not tied to a named organization.
Supporting quotations
Don’t post content on YouTube if it fits any of the descriptions noted below.
Content that glorifies or promotes violent tragedies, such as school shootings
Qualifications & exceptions
School shootings are an example ("such as"), not the only kind of violent tragedy covered.
Account & Service Control · Company practice
YouTube uses government and international designations and terminates channels of designated terrorist members
YouTube decides what counts as a criminal or terrorist organization using many factors, including designations by governments and international organizations. As an example, it says it terminates any channel where it has a reasonable belief that the account holder is a member of a designated terrorist organization, such as a U.S. Foreign Terrorist Organization or an organization identified by the United Nations. This termination is based on YouTube's reasonable belief about membership; it is not described as depending on what the channel posted.
Supporting quotations
YouTube relies on many factors, including government and international organization designations, to determine what constitutes criminal or terrorist organizations.
For example, we terminate any channel where we have reasonable belief that the account holder is a member of a designated terrorist organization, such as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (U.S.), or organization identified by the United Nations.
Qualifications & exceptions
Designations are one factor among many; the page does not say a designation is required or decisive.
Termination applies where YouTube has a reasonable belief of membership in a designated terrorist organization.
Not stated here
The page does not list the other factors YouTube uses or say whether any appeal is available for this kind of termination.
The policy covers every YouTube feature and external links in your content
This policy applies to videos, video descriptions, comments, live streams and any other YouTube product or feature. It also applies to external links in your content, including clickable URLs and verbally directing people to other sites in a video, as well as other forms. YouTube notes that the list of prohibited content is not complete.
Supporting quotations
This policy applies to videos, video descriptions, comments, live streams, and any other YouTube product or feature.
Keep in mind that this isn't a complete list.
Please note these policies also apply to external links in your content.
This can include clickable URLs, verbally directing users to other sites in video, as well as other forms.
Qualifications & exceptions
"Other forms" of directing users to external sites are covered without being listed.
Examples: raw reuploads, celebratory songs or memorials, perpetrator footage and modded games
YouTube's examples of content that is not allowed include: raw, unmodified reuploads of content created by terrorist, criminal or extremist organizations; celebrating terrorist leaders or their crimes, or terrorist or criminal organizations, in songs or memorials; footage filmed by the perpetrator during a deadly or major violent event in which weapons, violence or injured victims can be seen or heard; and video game content developed or modified ("modded") to glorify a violent event or its perpetrators, or to support violent criminal or terrorist organizations.
Supporting quotations
Here are some examples of content that’s not allowed on YouTube.
Raw and unmodified reuploads of content created by terrorist, criminal, or extremist organizations
Celebrating terrorist leaders or their crimes in songs or memorials
Celebrating terrorist or criminal organizations in songs or memorials
Footage filmed by the perpetrator during a deadly or major violent event, in which weapons, violence, or injured victims are visible or audible
Video game content which has been developed or modified (“modded”) to glorify a violent event, its perpetrators, or support violent criminal or terrorist organizations
Qualifications & exceptions
The reupload example is limited to raw and unmodified copies; the page separately allows possible exceptions for content with educational, documentary, scientific or artistic context.
The footage example covers footage filmed by the perpetrator in which weapons, violence or injured victims are visible or audible.
Linking & Identification · Restriction or exception
Examples: directing users to terrorist sites or linking to attackers' manifestos
Examples of content that is not allowed also include directing users to sites that espouse terrorist ideology, are used to spread prohibited content, or are used for recruitment, and links to external sites that contain manifestos of violent attackers. These examples apply the policy's rule that external links in your content are covered.
Supporting quotations
Here are some examples of content that’s not allowed on YouTube.
Content directing users to sites that espouse terrorist ideology, are used to disseminate prohibited content, or are used for recruitment
Links to external sites that contain manifestos of violent attackers
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
Examples: inciting violence, glorifying violence against civilians and fundraising for these groups
The examples of content that is not allowed also include inciting others to commit violent acts against individuals or a defined group of people, glorifying violence against civilians, and fundraising for violent criminal, extremist or terrorist organizations.
Supporting quotations
Here are some examples of content that’s not allowed on YouTube.
Inciting others to commit violent acts against individuals or a defined group of people
Glorifying violence against civilians
Fundraising for violent criminal, extremist, or terrorist organizations
Not stated here
The page does not say whether the fundraising example covers fundraising that happens off YouTube but is promoted on it.
Content & IP Rights · Restriction or exception
The examples are not complete; don't post content you think might violate the policy
YouTube says the examples are only some examples, and asks you not to post content if you think it might violate this policy. Content can therefore be covered even if it matches none of the listed descriptions or examples.
Supporting quotations
Please remember these are just some examples, and don't post content if you think it might violate this policy.
Content & IP Rights · Company practice
Violating content is removed with an email notice; unverifiable links may be removed
If your content violates this policy, YouTube says it will remove the content and email you to let you know. If YouTube cannot verify that a link you post is safe, it may remove the link. Violating URLs placed in the video itself or in the video's metadata (such as its description) may lead to the whole video being removed, not just the link. This follows from the policy's rule that it also covers external links in your content.
Supporting quotations
If your content violates this policy, we'll remove the content and send you an email to let you know.
If we can’t verify that a link you post is safe, we may remove the link.
Note that violative URLs posted within the video itself or in the video’s metadata may result in the video being removed.
Please note these policies also apply to external links in your content.
Qualifications & exceptions
Removing a link that cannot be verified as safe is discretionary ("may") and does not require a finding that the link violates the policy.
Removing the whole video for a violating URL is possible ("may result"), not automatic.
Not stated here
The page does not say what checks YouTube uses to verify that a link is safe.
Account & Service Control · Procedure
A first Community Guidelines violation likely brings a warning that training can make expire after 90 days
If this is your first violation of the Community Guidelines, you will likely get a warning with no penalty to your channel. You can take a policy training so that the warning expires after 90 days; the 90 days run from when you complete the training, not from when the warning was issued. If you violate the same policy again within that 90-day window, the warning may not expire and your channel may get a strike. If you violate a different policy after completing the training, you get another warning. The warning-first outcome is described as likely, not guaranteed: YouTube says it may terminate a channel after a single case of severe abuse, and it terminates channels it reasonably believes belong to members of designated terrorist organizations.
Supporting quotations
If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you'll likely get a warning with no penalty to your channel.
You will have the option to take a policy training to allow the warning to expire after 90 days.
The 90 day period starts from when the training is completed, not when the warning is issued.
However, if the same policy is violated within that 90 day window, the warning may not expire and your channel may be given a strike.
If you violate a different policy after completing the training, you will get another warning.
We may also terminate your channel or account after a single case of severe abuse, or when the channel is dedicated to a policy violation.
Qualifications & exceptions
"Likely" means a first violation does not always end with only a warning.
Repeat offenders may be prevented from taking policy trainings in the future.
Not stated here
The page does not say what counts as a "different policy" for this purpose or how many warnings can be received.
Three strikes within 90 days may lead to channel termination
If your channel gets 3 strikes within 90 days, YouTube says the channel may be terminated. The page links to more information about the strikes system, which is not part of this saved page.
Supporting quotations
If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel may be terminated.
You can learn more about our strikes system here.
Qualifications & exceptions
Termination after three strikes is possible ("may"), not stated as automatic.
Not stated here
The linked strikes-system page is not supplied, so what each strike restricts is not described here.
Charges & Financial Obligations · Company practice
Violations may disable monetization on any of your accounts; you can appeal
Violations of this policy may lead YouTube to disable monetization on any of your accounts, under its YouTube channel monetization policies; this can include warnings. If you think this is a mistake you can appeal. If the violation is overturned, you can apply for monetization again once you are eligible, in YouTube Studio.
Supporting quotations
Violations may result in monetization being disabled on any of your accounts in accordance with our YouTube channel monetization policies.
This can include warnings.
If you feel this is a mistake, you can appeal.
If the violation is overturned, you can apply for monetization once you're eligible in YouTube Studio.
Qualifications & exceptions
Monetization can be disabled on any of your accounts, not only the account that posted the content.
Overturning the violation does not restore monetization automatically; you apply again once eligible.
Not stated here
The YouTube channel monetization policies and their eligibility rules are not supplied here.
The page does not explain what "This can include warnings" means for monetization in practice.
Account & Service Control · Company practice
YouTube may terminate a channel or account for repeated violations, a single severe case or a dedicated channel
YouTube may terminate your channel or account for repeated violations of the Community Guidelines or Terms of Service. It may also terminate after a single case of severe abuse, or when a channel is dedicated to a policy violation, without the warning-and-strike sequence. Separately, this policy says YouTube terminates any channel where it has a reasonable belief that the account holder is a member of a designated terrorist organization. YouTube may also stop repeat offenders from taking policy trainings in the future.
Supporting quotations
We may terminate your channel or account for repeated violations of the Community Guidelines or Terms of Service.
We may also terminate your channel or account after a single case of severe abuse, or when the channel is dedicated to a policy violation.
We may prevent repeat offenders from taking policy trainings in the future.
For example, we terminate any channel where we have reasonable belief that the account holder is a member of a designated terrorist organization, such as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (U.S.), or organization identified by the United Nations.
Qualifications & exceptions
Termination for repeated, severe or dedicated violations is discretionary ("may").
Termination can reach the account, not only the channel.
Not stated here
The page does not define "severe abuse" or "dedicated to a policy violation"; the linked terminations page is not supplied.