YouTube's Pre-Upload 'Checks' Tool Now Scans for Guideline Violations

YouTube is expanding its pre-publish “Checks” tool to automatically scan for potential Community Guideline violations, giving creators a heads-up on a wider range of rule-breaking content before their video is published. The update adds another layer of automated moderation to the upload process, building on a feature that previously focused on copyright and ad-suitability issues.

• Publish at your own risk: The system flags potential issues during the upload, allowing a creator to either edit the video or publish it anyway. But YouTube warns that publishing a flagged video isn't a free pass; doing so still risks a channel strike or other penalties once the content is reviewed by a human.

• Automated anxiety: While the tool offers a proactive warning, it also doubles down on the automated detection that has long been a headache for creators plagued by algorithmic errors. The move also recalls historical allegations that the platform has inconsistently enforced its policies, with claims that it made exceptions for its biggest stars.

For now, the feature is rolling out in a limited test as YouTube works to fine-tune its detection algorithm. The company's admission that the system is "not perfect" leaves the ultimate responsibility on creators to navigate the platform's extensive rules themselves.

The update underscores the power of the platform's algorithm, which reportedly drives 70% of what people watch. While the new checks aim to automate enforcement, YouTube's rules aren't always black and white, with the platform making exceptions for content that has a clear educational, documentary, scientific, or artistic context.