This week, a wave of concern swept through the community of tech content creators on YouTube as they began to suspect that AI was making it increasingly difficult to share some of the most sought-after tech tutorials on the platform. However, YouTube has denied these claims, insisting that the unusual removals of videos were not a result of automation. This denial comes in the wake of creators reporting that educational videos, which had been available for years, were suddenly flagged as “dangerous” or “harmful,” with no clear option for a human review process to challenge these removals.
Creators were alarmed when their appeals were denied at a pace that seemed too rapid for a human reviewer. A YouTube spokesperson confirmed late Friday that videos flagged by Ars Technica had been reinstated, assuring creators that the platform would implement measures to prevent similar content from being removed in the future. Despite this assurance, creators remain puzzled about the rationale behind the removals, especially since YouTube claimed that neither the initial enforcement decisions nor the appeal decisions were influenced by automation.
Rich White, a computer technician who runs the channel CyberCPU Tech, expressed his frustration after having two videos removed that provided workarounds for installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware. These videos have garnered significant attention, as users frequently seek ways to bypass Microsoft account requirements with each new build release. “These are bread and butter videos,” White noted, emphasizing their vital role in his channel's success. With a high demand for such content, many tech creators fill their channels with similar tutorials.
White pointed out that the removals seemed to target recently posted content, raising concerns that if older videos were impacted, entire channels dedicated to tech tutorials could vanish “in the blink of an eye.” Another YouTuber, who runs the tech tips account Britec09, echoed these concerns after one of his videos was also removed. The stakes are high for creators like White, who rely on these videos as their primary source of income. To mitigate risks, White has started censoring content he plans to post, fearing potential penalties that could harm his account’s reach and monetization.
YouTube’s community guidelines are notoriously strict, with the platform quickly removing accounts that accumulate three strikes within a 90-day period for violating policies. Oddly, White had not received any strikes following the removal of his videos. In contrast, Britec reported receiving a strike after his video was taken down. White’s account had only received warnings, which means he is not at immediate risk of being banned.
Creators are left speculating about why YouTube might classify this content as “harmful.” White suggested that AI might be misinterpreting his content as “piracy,” despite the fact that his guides require users to have a valid license for Windows 11. He also dismissed the idea that Microsoft was behind the takedowns, arguing that tech content creators have a complicated relationship with the company. “They don’t like what we’re doing, but I don’t think they’re going to get rid of it,” he remarked.
White hypothesized that YouTube may be relying on AI for stricter enforcement but recognized the potential risks of over-moderation. He suggested that YouTube might be cautious about letting AI issue strikes, as this could lead to more erroneous removals. Unfortunately, without clarity from YouTube, creators focused on tutorials, tech tips, and computer repair videos are feeling anxious about the platform's automated moderation processes. “We are not even sure what we can make videos on,” White lamented. “Everything’s a theory right now because we don’t have anything solid from YouTube.”
YouTube’s creator tool, which is intended to provide content ideas, has frustrated creators by suggesting topics that have led to recent removals. Britec pointed out this contradiction, stating, “This tool was to give you ideas for your next video, and you can see right here, it’s telling you to create content on these topics. And if you did this, I can guarantee you your channel will get a strike.”
As creators like White face rapid and potentially automated decisions on their appeals, they are encountering what he described as a “brick wall.” One of his appeals was denied within a minute, suggesting an automated response. “I simply wasn’t going to do that again,” White said, expressing his frustration with the lack of human interaction in the appeal process.
The panic among creators has reached their followers, with discussions on platforms like Reddit urging users to save tutorials before they potentially disappear. “I’ve had people come out and say, ‘This can’t be true. I rely on this every time,’” White recounted. As the situation evolves, the tech content creator community remains in a state of uncertainty, hoping for clearer communication from YouTube regarding its content moderation practices.
