Rant: I found a list of 1,200 banned search terms on a major video site

I was digging through a tech blog last night and saw a link to a leaked internal document. It was a list of over 1,200 words and phrases that get videos automatically flagged or hidden on a big video platform. Some of them were just normal news topics from last year. It made me wonder how much we don't see without even knowing it. Does anyone know a good place to find these kinds of moderation lists for other apps?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_anthony2mo ago

Checked a few transparency reports from the big platforms. They sometimes release broad categories, but the actual keyword lists are usually kept secret. Found some old leaked lists on a tech wiki that archives that stuff.

pat_rivera2mo ago

Wait, why would we even want them to publish the full keyword lists? If they put every single word out there, bad actors would just game the system and find new ways to slip past the filters. Keeping some details secret is what makes the filters actually work. Those leaked lists are usually outdated for a reason.

felix4142mo ago

But how can we trust a secret system?

ryanm601mo ago

Exactly, pat_rivera. I've been in a few moderation teams and full keyword dumps are a terrible idea because they become bullet lists for people to work around. The smart play is to publish general categories and let the specific terms rotate behind the scenes so the filter stays ahead of the cheaters. Old leaks are usually already dead weight by the time they hit the archives.