YouTube says it has 'no obligation' to host anyone's video

“YouTube is under no obligation to host or serve content,” the new terms of service policy reads. It's another way of saying that just because ... Skiptomaincontent clock menu more-arrow no yes Tech Video Amazon Apple Facebook Google Microsoft Samsung Tesla AI Cars Cybersecurity Mobile Policy Privacy Scooters AllTech Reviews Phones Laptops Headphones Cameras Tablets Smartwatches Speakers Drones Accessories BuyingGuides How-tos Deals MorefromVergeReviews Science Video Space NASA SpaceX Health Energy Environment AllScience Creators YouTube Instagram Adobe Kickstarter Tumblr ArtClub Cameras Photography What’sinyourbag? AllCreators Entertainment Film TV Games Fortnite GameofThrones Books Comics Music AllEntertainment Video Features Podcasts Newsletters MerchStore ✕ Filedunder: Tech YouTube Creators YouTubesaysithas‘noobligation’tohostanyone’svideo Otherchangesaffectchildren’scontent By JuliaAlexander Nov11,2019,9:53amEST Sharethisstory SharethisonFacebook SharethisonTwitter Share Allsharingoptions Share Allsharingoptionsfor: YouTubesaysithas‘noobligation’tohostanyone’svideo Linkedin Reddit Pocket Flipboard Email TheVerge YouTubeisrollingoutupdatedtermsofserviceonDecember10th,andanewlineactsasareminderthatthecompanydoesn’thavetokeepanyvideoupthatitdoesn’twantto. “YouTubeisundernoobligationtohostorservecontent,”thenewtermsofservicepolicyreads. It’sanotherwayofsayingthatjustbecauseYouTubeisarelativelyopenplatform,itdoesn’tmeanthatthecompanyisrequiredtokeepvideosup. YouTubehasfacedcriticismfromallsidesoveritsvideoremovalprocess.SomecriticsarguethatYouTubecoulddomoretotakedownvideosthatbuttupagainstthecompany’srulesbutdon’toutrightviolatethem;othersarguethatYouTubeoughttobeafullyopenplatformandshouldn’tcontrolwhatremainsupandwhatdoesn’t.Executiveshavelongdefendedtheplatformasachampionoffreespeech,buthavestartedtoclampdownonthetypeofvideosallowedtocirculate. Companiesupdatetheirtermsofserviceallthetime—thisisYouTube’sthirdchangejustin2019.TheselatestupdatesseeminglycoincidewithupcomingchangesYouTubewillmakeinaccordancewithnewFederalTradeCommissionguidelinesforYouTube,althoughaYouTuberepdeniesthesechangesweremadebecauseoftheFTCruling. “YouTubeisundernoobligationtohostorservecontent” Specifically,manyoftheupdatescenteraroundwho’susingtheplatformandprotectionforchildren.InSeptember,theFederalTradeCommissionissueda$170millionfineagainstGoogleforallegedviolationsofthechildren’sonlineprivacyprotectionact(COPPA).YouTubealsoagreedtomakechangestofurtherprotectchildren’sprivacyandcomplywiththelaw. Thetermsofservicenowcomewithanupdatedsectiononparentalresponsibilitywhenchildrenusetheplatform,andhavemoreclearlystatedtheagerequirementspercountryforusingYouTube.Thisalsoincludesanoticestating“ifyouareaminorinyourcountry,youmustalwayshaveyourparentorguardian’spermissionbeforeusingtheservice.” YouTubesaidthetermsofservicearebeingchanged“inordertomakethemeasiertoreadandtoensurethey’reuptodate,”aspokespersontoldTheVerge. “We’renotchangingthewayourproductswork,howwecollectorprocessdata,oranyofyoursettings,”thespokespersonadded. “We’renotchangingthewayourproductswork,howwecollectorprocessdata,oranyofyoursettings” OtherchangesjustseemtogiveYouTubemorepower.OneofthemostcontroversialclausesthatcreatorshavetweetedaboutsinceYouTubebeganalertingpeopletotheupcomingchangeshastodowithtermination.VariousYouTubershavetweetedoutasegmentfromthetermsofservicethatstates“YouTubemayterminateyouraccess,oryourGoogleaccount’saccesstoallorpartoftheserviceifYouTubebelieves,initssolediscretion,thatprovisionoftheservicetoyouisnolongercommerciallyviable.”SomecreatorshavereadthisassayingthatYouTubecansimplyterminatechannelsandaccountsifthey’renotearningrevenue. AversionofthatlinehasbeeninYouTube’stermsofservicesinceearly2018,however.ThisupdatejustmodifiesthewordingtogiveYouTubemoreleewaytomakethedetermination.ItnowsaysthatYouTubehasthe“solediscretion”toterminateanaccount,whereasbeforeitsaidthatYouTubemust“reasonablybelieve”itshoulddoso.AYouTubespokespersontoldTheVergethatthecompanyis“alsonotchanginghowweworkwithcreators,northeirrightsovertheirworks,ortheirrighttomonetize.” Update(November11th,10:05amET):ThestoryhasbeenupdatedtoincludeadditionalcommentfromYouTubeaboutmonetizationconcernsfromcreators. NextUpIn Tech Signupforthe newsletter VergeDeals SubscribetogetthebestVerge-approvedtechdealsoftheweek. Justonemorething! PleaseconfirmyoursubscriptiontoVergeDealsviatheverificationemailwejustsentyou. Email(required) Bysubmittingyouremail,youagreetoourTermsandPrivacyNotice.Youcanoptoutatanytime.ThissiteisprotectedbyreCAPTCHAandtheGooglePrivacyPolicyandTermsofServiceapply. Subscribe Sharethisstory Twitter Facebook