We bring this petition forth driven by a strong belief in the importance of freedom of speech and expression. A lifelong champion for such freedoms, the autocratic censorship exercised by YouTube has a personal effect on us. It is disheartening to see content creators living in fear, forced to resort to euphemisms and censored language, under the threat of their video content being automatically removed or demonetized. This happens with little to no transparency or proper review process striking at the heart of creative liberty.

With 2 billion logged-in users per month, YouTube is one of the largest platforms for sharing ideas and original content (Omniconvert, 2021). However, its regulatory mechanisms are highly automated, often leading to questionable judgment calls and rampant false positives. A different approach is urgently needed: a system that respects free speech, ensures thoughtful content review, and promotes an open dialogue atmosphere.

We understand that some people are emotionally affected by certain content, however a warning in the beginning and description of the video should provide enough information for someone to know whether or not they would be comfortable with the video or not. A search feature to filter out any content they may find problematic would also be a reasonable solution.

We call on YouTube to thoroughly revamp its censorship policies and algorithms, to foster an environment where creativity and freedom of speech are safeguarded. Sign this petition if you believe in the power of free speech and the fair treatment of creative content on digital platforms.