YouTube
YouTube Terms of Service & Privacy Policy
YouTube is a video-sharing and streaming platform where users can watch, upload, and share videos, subscribe to channels, and monetize content through advertising and memberships.
Analyzed May 21, 2026
Key findings
Summary
YouTube's terms reflect standard-to-broad practices typical of a major ad-supported platform: extensive data collection across devices, location, and activity used for personalized ads; a broad content license for uploads; and discretionary termination and content removal rights. The company states it does not sell personal information, and disputes go through court rather than arbitration.
Category Breakdown
Google collects extensive data including precise location, device identifiers, biometric information (if provided), health information, browsing/activity history across services, and content, used for personalization and ad targeting.
From: PRIVACY POLICYDepending on these settings, this may include precise location data, for example GPS data for Android features like navigation or finding your phone.View source document
Google shares data with service providers, partners, and for legal compliance, and states it does not sell personal information, though it uses ad and analytics services that link activity across sites.
From: PRIVACY POLICYGoogle does not sell your personal information. Google also does not “share” your personal information as that term is defined in the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).View source document
Users retain ownership of uploaded content but grant YouTube a broad, worldwide, sublicensable, transferable license to use, reproduce, and monetize content in connection with the service and business.
From: TERMS OF SERVICEyou grant to YouTube a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable and transferable license to use that Content (including to reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works, display and perform it) in connection with the Service and YouTube’s (and its successors' and Affiliates') business, including for the purpose of promoting and redistributing part or all of the Service.View source document
YouTube may suspend or terminate accounts for breach, legal requirements, or harm, generally with notice and an appeal option, though it also reserves discretion to restrict creators.
From: TERMS OF SERVICEYouTube reserves the right to suspend or terminate your Google account or your access to all or part of the Service if (a) you materially or repeatedly breach this Agreement; (b) we are required to do so to comply with a legal requirement or a court order; or (c) we reasonably believe that there has been conduct that creates (or could create) liability or harm to any user, other third party, YouTube or our Affiliates.View source document
The terms specify a court venue clause (Santa Clara County, California) and a one-year claim limitation period, with no mandatory arbitration language detected.
From: TERMS OF SERVICEAll claims arising out of or relating to these terms or the Service will be governed by California law, except California’s conflict of laws rules, and will be litigated exclusively in the federal or state courts of Santa Clara County, California, USA.View source document
The provided documents focus on the core free video service and do not detail auto-renewal or billing terms for YouTube Premium or memberships.