YouTube has regularly demonstrated that the company’s moderators have explicitly political reasons for choosing which videos to flag and remove. For example, YouTube removed conservative rapper Bryson Gray’s anti-Biden “Let’s Go Brandon” song due to the lyrics regarding the COVID-19 pandemic (1). YouTube also suspended the Right Side Broadcasting Network and indefinitely disabled comments on the channel’s videos due to “concerns about violence” (2). YouTube also removed the comedy troupe Nelk Boys’ podcast featuring former President Donald Trump without reason (3). YouTube also removed a roundtable discussion hosted by Gov. Ron DeSantis that featured reputable doctors and scientists from Stanford, Harvard, and Oxford that called into question the validity of data regarding the efficacy of mask-wearing in reducing the spread of COVID-19 to children (4). YouTube permanently banned conservative commentator and former NYPD officer Dan Bongino from its platform (5). YouTube has also permanently demonetized many firearm-focused channels, including ones that make primarily educational and hobby-focused videos, despite the existence of no clear rule in the site’s guidelines prohibiting such content (6). YouTube is a member of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media, which aims to demonetize advertisements and suppress content that “vilifies” individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity, discusses “debated social issues in a negative or partisan context” or spreads “hate speech” (7)(8)(9). The company received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign (10). Among other requirements, this means the company has pledged to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies.

In order for a nonprofit to be eligible for the YouTube Giving fundraising program, the organization must “follow YouTube’s monetization policies both on and off YouTube” (1). Although YouTube does not specifically discriminate against any type of organization via this policy, the site’s Community Guidelines are vague and often selectively enforced. Thus, especially with YouTube’s history of censorship, conservative or faith-based organizations could be easily disqualified from this program (2). Parent company Google does not disqualify religious organizations from receiving grants, provided that the organization engages in community work under a separate 501(c)(3) status (3). However, Google does require that all potential grant recipients have non-discrimination policies regarding sexual identity (4).

Google and its subsidiaries do not provide viewpoint protection to employees (1). YouTube also does not consider discriminatory behavior based on political opinion to be hate speech in its Community Guidelines (2).

YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki has publicly taken political sides and urged large YouTube creators to use the platform to do the same (1)(2). YouTube has partnered with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (3). Parent company Google has also taken numerous advocacy positions regarding LGBTQ policy, voting legislation, and the Black Lives Matter movement (4)(5)(6).

YouTube is a member of the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (1)(2)(3). In 2020, YouTube donated $1 million to the Center for Policing Equity, a research organization that publicly advocates on behalf of ideologically influenced police reform policies (4)(5)(6).

YouTube does not have a PAC.