YouTube appears to be “accidentally” blocking accounts and removing channels and videos for violating its “spam, deceptive practices, and scams policy.” Even users with no videos uploaded to their accounts seem caught up in the bug. The issue started on October 3, 2024, and continues at the time of writing.
Users have lost access to their YouTube account and can no longer watch videos on the platform or listen to music on YouTube Music. YouTube Premium subscribers are also affected and might notice that content like videos and playlists is missing.
The streaming giant acknowledged the issue in a support post and claimed to be “actively working on reinstating the channels” in addition to any other accounts affected. Access to paid YouTube subscriptions like YouTube TV, YouTube Premium, and YouTube Music. For anyone missing content on their accounts, YouTube added that it was just a delay and that missing content would “soon be restored.”

Given YouTube’s explanation, it’s unlikely that most, if not all, of the accounts had committed any severe or repeated violations. Users were informed of the account ban or channel removal via an email from the streaming giant itself. The email also contains a link to appeal the ban, which multiple users have done to varying effects. For some, the appeal restored their account, including all the content, while others seem to be missing playlists.
There’s no concentrated area affected by the bug, with reports coming in from the US, Europe, and Asia about whether the ban wave was due to an internal issue at YouTube or Google or by the action of a third party, possibly an attacker.
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