YouTube says COVID-19 will lead to more unjustified video removals

YouTube issued a warning that the novel coronavirus outbreak will result in the deletion of more videos. Google's video service relies on a combination of a machine learning algorithm and human moderators to review videos, but to protect its staff, in the coming weeks the firm will rely more on technology than on people.

As a result, it should be expected that more videos will be deleted that aren't actually against YouTube policy:

However, automated technology is not perfect. Many videos will likely be impacted by this shift away from human moderation. And videos may be removed even though their content wasn’t actually against YouTube policy. In those cases, video creators are being asked to appeal the decision, which will allow YouTube’s remaining moderators to take a look at the video in question and make a decision.

Because of these complications, YouTube informs creators they won’t be punished with strikes except in cases where YouTube has “high confidence” that the video content was in violation.

Overall, it's pretty weird to read this. For a tech firm as large as Google, it's unexpected to read that they need workers present at the office for something as mundane as reviewing videos.