Uploaded April 2009 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
This is the third in a series of videos on YouTubes Terms of Service. This series is primarily in response to the YourTubeAdvocates (Number 20) video
No Graphic or Gratuitous Violence
youtube.com/t/community_guidelines
Graphic or gratuitous violence is not allowed. If your video shows someone being physically hurt, attacked, or humiliated, don't post it.
This is further explained in the Community Guideline Tips:
youtube.com/t/community_guidelines#tips
(Click on "Shocking and Disgusting".)
The world is a dangerous place. Sometimes people do get hurt and its inevitable that these events may be documented on YouTube. However, its not okay to post violent or gory content thats primarily intended to be shocking, sensational or disrespectful. If a video is particularly graphic or disturbing, it should be balanced with additional context and information. For instance, including a clip from a slaughter house in a video on factory farming may be appropriate. However, stringing together unrelated and gruesome clips of animals being slaughtered in a video may be considered gratuitous if its purpose is to shock rather than illustrate.
YouTube provides a valuable service that can help keep police brutality in check:
totalinjury.com/news/articles/police-brutality/youtube-video.aspx
gawker.com/366585/youtube-ends-police-brutality
Police Brutality in Morocco
youtube.com/watch?v=UzUeqieegbo
YouTube is also a tool that can be used to publicize the suppression used by brutal regimes. However, there is one prominent YouTube screwup worthy of note.
Wael abbas is the winner of the prestigious International Center for Journalists Knight award for excellence.
youtube.com/watch?v=zfWCX__kQ3k
Here is a CNN report on the importance of Abbass work:
youtube.com/watch?v=bBdglRJ9aZY
Yet, Youtube suspended his account for posting videos of Egyptian police brutality:
nowpublic.com/culture/youtube-shuts-down-egyptian-anti-torture-activists-account
rawstory.com/news/200/AntiTorture_Activist_kicked_off_Youtube_%5BVIDEO.MA%5D_1130.html
"With what they are doing now, they are helping tyrants, they are helping torturers, they are helping dictatorships.
This is not really helping people who are fighting for democracy in 3rd world countries. We thought that YouTube was our ally; it helped show the truth in countries like Burma, but with what they did now, it doesn't seem like that anymore."
Wolf Blitzer reports on YouTubes closing down Wael Abbass account:
youtube.com/watch?v=GstQihMWSHU
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Menassat.com is a news site focusing on events in the Middle East and North Africa. It is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands.
menassat.com/?q=en/page/1063
THE ARTICLE THEY WROTE ABOUT YOUTUBE REGARDING ABBASS SUSPENSION IS A MUST READ!!!! PLEASE READ IT!!!
menassat.com/?q=news-articles/2347-youtube-feeding-regional-crackdown-cyber-activists
Since November 2006, YouTube has been officially owned by Google Inc. Its therefore safe to assume that both sites maintain a similar philosophy. The mission of Google, as stated on Googles official page, is to organize the world's information and make it universally useful and accessible.
But how can people make universal use out of Googles products if its staff seemingly practices censorship?
How can people find or have access to certain information if Google suspends user accounts without issuing a valid reason or prior notice?
Is Googles YouTube really functioning to serve and apply its stated mission as best as possible? One cant help but ponder such questions, seeing as this is not the first time YouTube caves to state-sponsored censorship.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Youtube eventually relented after a widespread outcry and decided he could post his videos of police brutality on their site if he put it in the proper context.
webtvwire.com/is-youtube-the-proper-forum-for-human-rights-abuse-videos-the-wael-abbas-case
reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL0316580920071203?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
This is the third in a series of videos on YouTubes Terms of Service. This series is primarily in response to the YourTubeAdvocates (Number 20) video
No Graphic or Gratuitous Violence
youtube.com/t/community_guidelines
Graphic or gratuitous violence is not allowed. If your video shows someone being physically hurt, attacked, or humiliated, don't post it.
This is further explained in the Community Guideline Tips:
youtube.com/t/community_guidelines#tips
(Click on "Shocking and Disgusting".)
The world is a dangerous place. Sometimes people do get hurt and its inevitable that these events may be documented on YouTube. However, its not okay to post violent or gory content thats primarily intended to be shocking, sensational or disrespectful. If a video is particularly graphic or disturbing, it should be balanced with additional context and information. For instance, including a clip from a slaughter house in a video on factory farming may be appropriate. However, stringing together unrelated and gruesome clips of animals being slaughtered in a video may be considered gratuitous if its purpose is to shock rather than illustrate.
YouTube provides a valuable service that can help keep police brutality in check:
totalinjury.com/news/articles/police-brutality/youtube-video.aspx
gawker.com/366585/youtube-ends-police-brutality
Police Brutality in Morocco
youtube.com/watch?v=UzUeqieegbo
YouTube is also a tool that can be used to publicize the suppression used by brutal regimes. However, there is one prominent YouTube screwup worthy of note.
Wael abbas is the winner of the prestigious International Center for Journalists Knight award for excellence.
youtube.com/watch?v=zfWCX__kQ3k
Here is a CNN report on the importance of Abbass work:
youtube.com/watch?v=bBdglRJ9aZY
Yet, Youtube suspended his account for posting videos of Egyptian police brutality:
nowpublic.com/culture/youtube-shuts-down-egyptian-anti-torture-activists-account
rawstory.com/news/200/AntiTorture_Activist_kicked_off_Youtube_%5BVIDEO.MA%5D_1130.html
"With what they are doing now, they are helping tyrants, they are helping torturers, they are helping dictatorships.
This is not really helping people who are fighting for democracy in 3rd world countries. We thought that YouTube was our ally; it helped show the truth in countries like Burma, but with what they did now, it doesn't seem like that anymore."
Wolf Blitzer reports on YouTubes closing down Wael Abbass account:
youtube.com/watch?v=GstQihMWSHU
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Menassat.com is a news site focusing on events in the Middle East and North Africa. It is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands.
menassat.com/?q=en/page/1063
THE ARTICLE THEY WROTE ABOUT YOUTUBE REGARDING ABBASS SUSPENSION IS A MUST READ!!!! PLEASE READ IT!!!
menassat.com/?q=news-articles/2347-youtube-feeding-regional-crackdown-cyber-activists
Since November 2006, YouTube has been officially owned by Google Inc. Its therefore safe to assume that both sites maintain a similar philosophy. The mission of Google, as stated on Googles official page, is to organize the world's information and make it universally useful and accessible.
But how can people make universal use out of Googles products if its staff seemingly practices censorship?
How can people find or have access to certain information if Google suspends user accounts without issuing a valid reason or prior notice?
Is Googles YouTube really functioning to serve and apply its stated mission as best as possible? One cant help but ponder such questions, seeing as this is not the first time YouTube caves to state-sponsored censorship.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Youtube eventually relented after a widespread outcry and decided he could post his videos of police brutality on their site if he put it in the proper context.
webtvwire.com/is-youtube-the-proper-forum-for-human-rights-abuse-videos-the-wael-abbas-case
reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL0316580920071203?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
