download_transcript

THE RISK

Low Risk

Why download_transcript needs a policy

This tool retrieves and downloads transcript data from YouTube. While 'download' might suggest a write operation, the actual effect is read-only—it fetches existing transcript data and returns it in a file format without creating, modifying, or deleting any data on YouTube or related systems. There are no side effects, no code execution, no data modification, and no financial impact. This is classified as Read.

From the tool's definition Tool description states 'Downloads the transcript of a YouTube video as a markdown file (.md). Returns the file path.' The action is retrieval and conversion of publicly available transcript data with no modification, deletion, or execution of external…

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access download_transcript gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control download_transcript

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Youtube, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for download_transcript:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "download_transcript": {}
  }
}

download_transcript is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register Youtube — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

CAP THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More Youtube tools

Execute download_audio Downloads audio from a YouTube video. Returns the file path. Execute download_video Downloads a YouTube video (video+audio) to the local filesystem. Returns the file path. Read download_transcript_timed Downloads the transcript of a YouTube video as a markdown file (.md) with timestamps. Retu Read get_metadata Fetches video metadata: title, channel, description, publish date, views, duration. Read get_transcript Fetches the transcript of a YouTube video given its URL or video ID. Read get_transcript_timed Fetches the transcript with timestamps for each segment. Read get_transcript_timestamps Fetches the transcript with timestamps for each segment. (Alias for get_transcript_timed) Read get_video_metadata Fetches video metadata: title, channel, description, publish date, views, duration. (Alias

All 11 Youtube tools →

Read tools on other servers

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Go deeper

The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Data exfiltration → How read access becomes an exfiltration channel when chained with untrusted content.
MCP token cost → What connecting this server costs in context-window tokens on every request.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about download_transcript

What does the download_transcript tool do? +

Downloads the transcript of a YouTube video as a markdown file (.md). Returns the file path. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Youtube MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on download_transcript? +

Register the Youtube MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for download_transcript: 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. Nothing to install.

What risk level is download_transcript? +

download_transcript is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit download_transcript? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the download_transcript 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.

How do I block download_transcript completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for download_transcript. 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.

What MCP server provides download_transcript? +

download_transcript is provided by the Youtube MCP server (umbertotancorre/youtube-mcp-cli). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every Youtube tool call.

Start from Youtube, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →