KEY POINTS
  • In an update to its harassment policy, YouTube said it will no longer allow anyone to post content that "maliciously insults" others based on protected traits like race, gender expression and sexual orientation.
  • In May, YouTube faced a public outcry after a journalist who identifies as gay spoke out about repeated harassment he said he experienced from a conservative host.
  • YouTube will also allow creators to moderate some potentially inappropriate comments and suspend monetization for creators who "repeatedly brush up against our harassment policy."
Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube.
Michael Newberg | CNBC

Google-owned YouTube will no longer allow anyone on its platform to post content that "maliciously insults" others based on protected traits including race, gender expression and sexual orientation, the company announced Wednesday.

The change, which was issued as part of YouTube's regular harassment policy update, comes after the company was forced to publicly address a harassment claim one of its creators lodged against another. In late May, Vox journalist Carlos Maza, who identifies as gay, spoke out about repeated harassment he said he experienced from conservative YouTube host Steven Crowder, who regularly made fun of Maza's race and sexual orientation.