Interestingly, from what I understand, by policing content, they actually open themselves up to MORE legal issues. Unfortunately I can't find a source for that right now, but I recall hearing about it in the context of DMCA takedowns, IIRC. Effectively, the argument is, if they have the ability to censor specific kinds of videos, they have to be equally stringent with every video uploaded. Or something.

The DMCA contains 'safe harbor' exemptions from copyright laws for platforms that allow uploading of user generated content without prior approval, so long as the platform complies with 'DMCA takedown requests'.

But that's just the DMCA. Most laws don't contain provisions like that.

wasn't that law just gutted by SESTA/FOSTA

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2018/03/how-congress-censored-...

Nope. The DMCA had and continues to protect service providers from copyright infringement claims when they reproduce user-submitted content, so long their services follow certain procedures. FOSTA has absolutely nothing to do with copyright.

FOSTA does, however, amend & weaken the safe harbour provisions of the Communications Decency Act. But those protections were never subject to the idea that monitoring users makes you more liable.

Video sharing sites are generally protected from that kind of liability by section 230 of the CDA.