Censorship of YouTube

YouTube is a big website where people can watch and share videos. But sometimes, some countries or groups decide that certain videos should not be shown. This is called censorship. Censorship means stopping people from seeing or hearing certain things that some believe are not right or safe.

Many countries around the world have rules about what can be shown on YouTube. These rules can be different in each place. Some countries might block videos that talk about certain topics, while others might remove videos that have music or other content they do not like.

YouTube itself also has rules about what videos can stay on the site. They try to make sure that everyone can enjoy videos without seeing things that are hurtful or dangerous. But because different people have different ideas about what is right, there are often debates about what should be allowed or blocked.

Censorship on YouTube is important because it affects what people can learn and share online. It helps protect some, but it can also stop others from seeing information they might find useful or interesting.

General

YouTube sometimes blocks videos for different reasons. This can include stopping criticism of leaders, governments, or religions, or blocking videos that promote unfair treatment of groups. Countries may also block YouTube to follow their own laws about copyright, intellectual property, hate speech, and national security. Some places block YouTube completely for short times, like during big events or elections.

Certain videos might be blocked because they are not suitable for younger viewers. Schools and workplaces might also block YouTube to save internet space or to keep focus. YouTube has rules about what kinds of videos can be posted, and videos that break these rules might be taken down. There is also a "Restricted Mode" that helps filter out videos with more mature content.

Shadowbanning of comments

Comments on YouTube are sometimes hidden without the person who wrote them even knowing. When someone posts a comment, it shows up at first, but then it disappears when the page is refreshed.

Age-Verify experience in selected countries

In July 2025, Google started testing new rules in the United States to make sure users are old enough to see certain things on YouTube and other Google services. These rules use smart computer programs to guess if someone is under 18 years old, no matter what their account says. If the program thinks someone is young, it might turn off some features like personalized ads and special settings to help users stay safe.

To get back all the features, users might need to prove their age by paying a small fee, showing a scanned ID, or taking a selfie. This helps make sure that younger users are protected while they browse online.

EU Copyright Article 17 (Formerly Article 13)

The Article 17 (Formerly Article 13) of the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market is a rule that many people and big companies worry might limit what people can share online. It must be followed by all countries in the European Union (except the UK since Brexit).

In 2019, this rule was passed. It requires websites like YouTube to use special tools to check for content that might belong to someone else. These tools block uploads or hide them from people in the EU if the uploader is not from the EU. This is meant to protect creators' work, but some worry it could limit free speech, like blocking funny images or imitations. After many protests, the rule was changed to allow more fair use, like memes or parodies.

Countries where access to YouTube is currently blocked

China

See also: Internet censorship in China

YouTube was blocked in China for a few months in 2007 and again from 2009 onward. People in mainland China cannot normally visit YouTube, but it can sometimes be reached from Hong Kong, Macau, the Shanghai Free-Trade Zone, certain hotels, or by using special tools. Despite this, many Chinese news outlets still have official YouTube accounts.

Eritrea

Main article: Internet in Eritrea

YouTube has been blocked at times in Eritrea since 2011. Some experts think this was because of limits on internet bandwidth.

Iran

See also: Internet censorship in Iran

In 2006, Iran blocked YouTube for a short time after a video appeared online that broke the country’s social and moral rules. The block happened again after Iran’s 2009 election and in 2012 after a film trailer was shared on YouTube. Some people in Iran still manage to use YouTube through special tools.

North Korea

See also: Censorship in North Korea § Internet policies

YouTube is blocked in North Korea due to the country’s strict internet laws. The government has said that trying to access it can lead to punishment because special tools to bypass the block are not allowed.

Russia

Main article: Blocking of YouTube in Russia

See also: Internet censorship in Russia

On February 12, 2026, YouTube was fully blocked across Russia, meaning people needed special tools to visit the site. This happened after years of growing tension between YouTube and the Russian government, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Since 2022

In March 2022, YouTube showed ads asking people to disrupt important Russian transportation systems. In response, Russian authorities asked Google to stop these ads. YouTube also stopped allowing Russian government-linked channels to earn money or have subscribers. Between 2023 and 2025, Russian courts fined Google very large amounts for not restoring certain accounts and for sharing information the government did not like about the war in Ukraine.

In mid-2024, videos on YouTube began to load very slowly for people in Russia, from 40% to 70% slower. A Russian official said this slow-down was planned and asked people to follow Russian internet rules, but later blamed Google for not investing enough in Russia’s internet services. Starting in August 2024, even mobile devices had trouble using YouTube without special tools. Google also stopped allowing ads on YouTube for people in Russia.

Before 2022

In 2010, a video about a terrible event in Moscow was taken down from YouTube, along with many other videos from a certain group. In 2010, a court in Komsomolsk-on-Amur asked a local internet provider to block YouTube and some other sites, saying the material was harmful, but this block was later undone. In 2017, Russian authorities asked YouTube to remove a video that talked about unfair business practices by a bank. In February 2019, YouTube asked a Ukrainian group to take down a video about a person arrested in Russia. In 2021, YouTube blocked two channels linked to a Russian government media company for sharing incorrect information about vaccines.

Turkmenistan

On December 25, 2009, YouTube was blocked in Turkmenistan for security reasons. As of 2024, the block is still in place, but some people try to visit YouTube using special tools until those tools are also blocked.

Countries where access to YouTube is currently restricted

On December 10, 2025, YouTube, along with Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and Reddit, were banned for anyone under 16 in Australia. Users must verify their age using ID or facial scanning to access or create accounts.

On March 28, 2026, Indonesia became the first country in Southeast Asia to ban social media for children under 16. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Roblox, and Bigo Live were among the first to be restricted. The country considered these platforms high risk. The ban will be enforced gradually, requiring age verification through ID or facial scanning for anyone wanting to access or create accounts.

Countries where access to YouTube was formerly blocked

Afghanistan

In 2012, YouTube was blocked in Afghanistan because it showed a film that many people found upsetting. The block was lifted later that year.

Armenia

After elections in 2008, Armenia stopped people from accessing YouTube for a month. This happened because people were using the site to share videos showing unfair treatment by police during protests.

Bangladesh

YouTube was blocked in Bangladesh in 2009 after a video appeared that showed a meeting between the prime minister and army officers. The block ended a few weeks later. It was blocked again in 2012 for a different reason and unblocked in 2013. In 2024, YouTube, along with WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok, was blocked during protests about changes to rules.

Brazil

In 2007, a model in Brazil asked YouTube to be blocked because a video showed her and her boyfriend in a private moment on a beach. The block was removed a few days later. In 2024, a study found many videos on YouTube in Brazil that spread harmful and unfair ideas about women.

Finland

In 2017, some music videos on YouTube stopped working in Finland because of a problem with a group that controls music rights. The videos came back later that day after a quick fix.

Germany

From 2009 to 2016, many music videos were blocked in Germany because of a disagreement over money between YouTube and a music rights group. This changed in 2016 when they made a new agreement. In 2016, a German YouTuber needed a special license to keep doing live streams, or his channel would have stopped working.

India

In 2024, YouTube started stopping videos that use tricky titles to get clicks. This was first done in India before spreading to other countries.

Indonesia

In 2008, Indonesia asked YouTube to remove a film that upset many people, or they would block the site. YouTube didn’t remove it fast enough, so Indonesia blocked YouTube for a few days. In 2026, Indonesia decided that children under 16 cannot use social media sites like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and others.

Libya

In 2010, Libya blocked YouTube because it showed videos of protests and parties that people in power didn’t like. After a big change in the country in 2011, YouTube was allowed again.

Malaysia

In 2013, some videos that criticized the government in Malaysia were blocked on YouTube.

Morocco

In 2007, Morocco blocked YouTube for a short time. No reason was given, but some thought it was because of videos supporting a group wanting independence or videos making fun of the king.

Nepal

In 2025, Nepal blocked YouTube and other social media sites for a short time because these sites didn’t follow government rules. The block ended after protests and the prime minister stepped down.

Pakistan

YouTube has been blocked many times in Pakistan because of videos that upset many people, including videos about elections and religious topics. Each time, the block ended after the upsetting videos were removed or after the government changed its mind.

South Korea

In 2021, South Korea asked Google to remove about 54,000 videos. Some videos that were hard to remove were made harder to find.

Sudan

Sudan blocked YouTube in 2010 and again in 2012 because of videos that showed things the government didn’t like.

Syria

YouTube was blocked in Syria many times, especially during a big conflict in the country. It was blocked starting in 2007 and unblocked in 2011.

Tajikistan

Tajikistan blocked YouTube several times between 2012 and 2019 because of videos that showed protests, the president in an unflattering way, or other things the government didn’t like.

Thailand

Thailand blocked YouTube many times between 2006 and 2007 because of videos that upset the government or the king.

Tunisia

YouTube was blocked in Tunisia for several years before big changes in the country in 2011.

Turkey

Turkey has blocked YouTube many times since 2007 because of videos that insulted important people or for other reasons. The blocks sometimes lasted only a little while, and sometimes longer.

United Arab Emirates

In 2006, the United Arab Emirates blocked YouTube for a few months because of concerns about certain types of content on the site.

United States

In 2024, some songs stopped working on YouTube in the United States because of a disagreement between YouTube and a music rights group. This was fixed a couple of days later.

Uzbekistan

In 2018, YouTube was blocked in Uzbekistan for a reason that wasn’t explained.

Venezuela

During problems in Venezuela in 2019, the government often blocked YouTube and other social media to stop people from sharing information about protests and political events.