YouTube faces FTC investigation, citing unfair account bans and content removals

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is finalizing an investigation into Alphabet's YouTube for potential consumer protection law violations.

The probe scrutinizes whether YouTube's account suspensions and content removals violate its own policies. Investigators are determining if these actions constitute unfair or deceptive business practices.

The investigation centers on potential violations of Section 5 of the FTC Act. This statute prohibits unfair and deceptive business practices.

The commission is examining whether YouTube applies content rules inconsistently. Officials are investigating if a lack of clear processes harms creators who lose accounts or content without adequate recourse.