Waterford, MI asked in Internet Law for Michigan

Q: YouTube has stopped following their community guidelines sexual content and harassment is there a way to sue them

I have content creator names who go against SEXUAL CONTENT guidelines 100 percent when I report these nothing gets done. But the community guidelines state you can't post the following that go against SEXUAL CONTENT guidelines so can I sue YouTube for not following this

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1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
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Answered
  • Consumer Law Lawyer
  • Sacramento, CA

A: If you believe that YouTube is not enforcing its community guidelines regarding sexual content, you could consider legal action, but it's important to understand the challenges involved. Platforms like YouTube have broad discretion under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to manage content as they see fit. This protection often shields them from liability regarding content posted by third-party users. Your ability to sue would depend on demonstrating that YouTube has not only failed to follow its guidelines but that such failure has caused you specific harm.

The enforceability of community guidelines themselves as contractual promises is a complex and developing area of law. Legal action would likely be costly and uncertain in outcome. You might want to explore other remedies, such as escalating your complaints through YouTube's internal processes or seeking regulatory intervention, if appropriate. Consulting with an attorney to discuss the specifics of your situation and to obtain personalized legal advice would be a critical next step.

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