FTC investigates YouTube over potential consumer protection violations

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is reportedly in the final stages of an investigation into whether YouTube violated consumer protection laws regarding its content moderation and account suspension practices. The probe, which has been ongoing since last year, examines whether Alphabet Inc.’s video platform misled users about what content was permissible on the service.

Investigators are looking into whether YouTube’s actual enforcement of its policies aligns with the guidelines presented to users. The agency is considering whether users were induced to sign up for the service under the impression that certain content was allowed, only to have that content removed or their accounts suspended later.

Past instances of significant content removal include the suspension of Donald Trump’s account following the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack—an account that was later reinstated in 2023—as well as the removal of COVID-19 and vaccine-related content deemed to violate misinformation policies. If the FTC proceeds with a lawsuit, YouTube may face a legal battle or a potential settlement.