YouTube removes record number of videos after increasing role of AI in content review
The company has relied more heavily on automated content review since telling staff to work from home
Has YouTube struck the right balance?
Not every type of video was given the same treatment. For particularly sensitive content, such as violent extremism and child safety, YouTube relied more heavily on AI. This led the company to remove three times as much content flagged as violent extremism or potentially harmful to children.
But sacrificing accuracy for safety meant more content was removed that didn’t violate YouTube’s policies. The company says it’s taken several steps to reduce this disruption.
YouTube previously used a “three strikes and you’re out” policy for videos that violated its guidelines. But after expanding the role of automation in enforcement, YouTube stopped issuing strikes for content removed without human review — unless it was highly confident that the video broke the rules.
In addition, YouTube made more staff available to review appeals. The company says the number of both appeals and reinstatements were double that of the previous quarter.
YouTube claims it’s only “temporarily relying more on technology.” But with staff now set to work from homeuntil at least next July, it looks like AI will play a big role in enforcement until at least next summer.
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Story byThomas Macaulay
Thomas is a senior reporter at TNW. He covers European tech, with a focus on AI, cybersecurity, and government policy.Thomas is a senior reporter at TNW. He covers European tech, with a focus on AI, cybersecurity, and government policy.
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