Uploaded April 2009 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This is the first in a series of videos on YouTubes Terms of Service. This series is primarily in response to the YourTubeAdvocates (Number 20) videos.
youtube.com/watch?v=51f_1l20hXs
youtube.com/watch?v=GBab6u-VdYg
My videos on TOS may also help explain why people were quick to jump on YouTube for the suspension of James Randi. Mr. Randi gently chastised some of us for getting on YouTubes case, and this series of videos gives a partial explanation of why many are unwilling to give YouTube the benefit of the doubt.
youtube.com/watch?v=zngwTpkogeE
Part of that suspicion stems from past actions of YouTube, and part of it comes from their lack of communication with us about these matters. They make it very difficult for the average YouTuber to communicate with them if their video has been wrongfully removed.
A report by The Tech online—MITs oldest and largest newspaper, notes an incident where a video showing police brutality by Oklahoma police was put up on YouTube, the city of Blackwell, Oklahoma filed a DMCA complaint, and YouTube removed the video.
The article notes that YouTubes Terms of Service are also enforced in mysterious ways. What does a video involving a laser lighting matches and a video of a tornado destroying a home have in common? They were both removed for violating Youtubes Terms of Service. Corynne McSherry, staff attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation stated that takedowns for TOS violations can be arbitrary and unexplained. She said:
"In the Terms of Service, there isnt any kind of formal protection, or a formal procedure for users to get their data back except to send a letter to YouTube begging them to reconsider, "
http://tech.mit.edu/V128/N37/youtomb.html
This is the first in a series of videos on YouTubes Terms of Service. This series is primarily in response to the YourTubeAdvocates (Number 20) videos.
youtube.com/watch?v=51f_1l20hXs
youtube.com/watch?v=GBab6u-VdYg
My videos on TOS may also help explain why people were quick to jump on YouTube for the suspension of James Randi. Mr. Randi gently chastised some of us for getting on YouTubes case, and this series of videos gives a partial explanation of why many are unwilling to give YouTube the benefit of the doubt.
youtube.com/watch?v=zngwTpkogeE
Part of that suspicion stems from past actions of YouTube, and part of it comes from their lack of communication with us about these matters. They make it very difficult for the average YouTuber to communicate with them if their video has been wrongfully removed.
A report by The Tech online—MITs oldest and largest newspaper, notes an incident where a video showing police brutality by Oklahoma police was put up on YouTube, the city of Blackwell, Oklahoma filed a DMCA complaint, and YouTube removed the video.
The article notes that YouTubes Terms of Service are also enforced in mysterious ways. What does a video involving a laser lighting matches and a video of a tornado destroying a home have in common? They were both removed for violating Youtubes Terms of Service. Corynne McSherry, staff attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation stated that takedowns for TOS violations can be arbitrary and unexplained. She said:
"In the Terms of Service, there isnt any kind of formal protection, or a formal procedure for users to get their data back except to send a letter to YouTube begging them to reconsider, "
http://tech.mit.edu/V128/N37/youtomb.html
