YouTube uses a combination of automated systems (AI) and human review by the YouTube team to monitor and assess videos for compliance with its guidelines, copyright rules, and monetization policies.
1. AI and Algorithms
- Content ID: YouTube’s automated system called Content ID scans videos for copyrighted material. It automatically detects copyrighted music, video clips, or other protected content. If your video contains any copyrighted content, the system can block it, demonetize it, or assign revenue to the copyright owner.
- AI for Policy Violations: YouTube uses AI to flag videos that might violate its community guidelines, such as hate speech, misinformation, or harmful content. This AI helps detect inappropriate language or visuals (such as violence, nudity, or graphic content) in videos, especially in massive volumes of uploads.
2. Human Review by YouTube Team
- Manual Review: For certain types of violations or issues (e.g., appealing monetization decisions, disputes about copyright claims, or flagged content), YouTube relies on human reviewers. They evaluate videos based on YouTube’s community guidelines and make decisions about whether the content complies or should be removed or demonetized.
- Content Moderation: If AI flags a video but the issue is complex or requires human judgment (such as determining the context of controversial content), the video may be manually reviewed by the YouTube team.
3. Combined Approach
- Automatic vs. Manual: While AI systems handle the bulk of the initial checks, human reviewers handle more nuanced or specific cases. YouTube balances both to ensure a fast and accurate review process, particularly for content that might be flagged for demonetization, content removal, or a copyright strike.
Key Points:
- AI handles large-scale tasks like scanning for copyrighted content, analyzing titles, descriptions, and metadata for potential violations.
- The YouTube Team steps in when the situation requires subjective interpretation, such as determining whether a video violates community guidelines or deserves manual intervention (e.g., for monetization or content flagging).
For more detailed policies on how YouTube handles content review, you can check the official YouTube Help Center.