Extract comprehensive video metadata in JSON format without downloading content. This tool retrieves detailed information about a video using yt-dlp
AI agents call ytdlp_get_video_metadata to retrieve information from YouTube MCP Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool queries and returns video metadata without modifying, executing code, deleting data, or moving money. It is a straightforward read operation analogous to a GET request. The absence of download or modification capabilities and the explicit mention of metadata extraction without content download confirms Read category classification.
From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Extract comprehensive video metadata in JSON format without downloading content' and 'retrieves detailed information about a video' — pure data retrieval with no side effects.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access ytdlp_get_video_metadata gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and YouTube MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for ytdlp_get_video_metadata:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"ytdlp_get_video_metadata": {}
}
} ytdlp_get_video_metadata is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
Free to start. No card required.
Extract comprehensive video metadata in JSON format without downloading content. This tool retrieves detailed information about a video using yt-dlp. It is categorised as a Read tool in the YouTube MCP Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the YouTube MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for ytdlp_get_video_metadata: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches YouTube MCP Server. Nothing to install.
ytdlp_get_video_metadata is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the ytdlp_get_video_metadata rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for ytdlp_get_video_metadata. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
ytdlp_get_video_metadata is provided by the YouTube MCP Server MCP server (kevinwatt/yt-dlp-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from YouTube MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
Free to start. No card required.
10 YouTube MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.