YouTube misinformation policy — what's enforced

YouTube's misinformation policy is narrower than most creators assume. It covers a specific list of topics where misinformation can cause real-world harm. It does not cover "anything that's wrong" — being mistaken is not a policy violation.

What's covered

1. Health misinformation — content contradicting WHO or local health authority guidance on prevention, transmission, or treatment of conditions like COVID-19, cancer, HIV, etc.
2. Election misinformation — claims of widespread fraud or that election outcomes were rigged (without official verification), advancing claims that incorrectly identify winners, content meant to suppress voting.
3. Other harmful misinformation — content that misrepresents medical procedures, encourages dangerous remedies, denies major historical atrocities, etc.

What's NOT covered

• Opinions and commentary
• Satire and parody clearly labeled
• News reporting on misinformation (showing the false claim to debunk it)
• Debate of policy positions
• Personal anecdotes that may be inaccurate
• Mistakes of fact in unrelated topics

How enforcement works

Misinformation videos are typically:

1. Demonetized first — limited ads or no ads
2. Search-suppressed — lowered in recommendations and search results
3. Removed — for severe or repeated violations, with a community guidelines strike

Removal triggers a strike. The strike escalation tier applies (3 in 90 days = termination).

Health misinformation specifically

This is the most active enforcement area. YouTube updates its prohibited claims list based on WHO and CDC guidance. Topics covered in 2026:

• COVID-19 prevention, treatment, and vaccines
• Cancer treatment (specifically claims that unproven alternatives cure cancer)
• HIV/AIDS treatment denialism
• Reproductive health (specific country-by-country rules)

If you create health content, link to the WHO or relevant authority in your description and add a disclaimer that your content is informational, not medical advice.

Election misinformation

YouTube applies this policy in election periods (typically 3 months before and after a national election in a covered country). Outside these windows, enforcement is lighter.

Best practices

• Cite sources in your video and description
• Update older videos with a top-pinned comment if facts have changed
• Avoid sensationalist titles that overstate findings
• For health content, route viewers to professional advice