Understanding Fraudulent Strikes on YouTube

Overview

• Increasing issue of fraudulent copyright strikes on YouTube.
• Strikes being misused, damaging creators' reputations and channels.

Key Cases Discussed

The Manny Show

• Issued a second fraudulent strike, but it was declined.
• Pattern of issuing strikes due to hurt feelings.

Sniper Wolf

• Initially appeared to be the source of a strike against "One Giant Onion."
• Sniper Wolf denied issuing the strike.
• Evidence suggested an impersonator filed the strike.

Case Details

One Giant Onion

• Created a 3-hour video using Sniper Wolf’s content, received a strike months later.
• Video remained up for 9 days before being struck.
• Channel has nearly a million subscribers.
• Community backlash against Sniper Wolf, thinking she was bullying others.

Investigation Findings

• Rare for someone to successfully file a strike posing as another without being a legitimate agency.
• YouTube’s system usually catches impersonator strikes.
• Comparison to a past incident in the Destiny 2 community where an individual impersonated Bungie.
• Sniper Wolf's strike was filed using a personal Gmail, not a professional email.
• Confirmed Sniper Wolf didn’t work with the agency in question.

Broader Issues and Precedents

• Mention of 2018 incident with Alinity threatening to copyright strike PewDiePie through an agency.
• Agencies sometimes file strikes for creators to control reuploads or unwanted content.

Conclusion and Suggested Actions

Next Steps for Sniper Wolf

• Contacted Sniper Wolf for confirmation, she denied any association with the group.
• Mention of potential legal actions, difficulties due to the group being foreign.

Call to Action for YouTube

• Need for stricter policies and better detection systems for fraudulent strikes.
• Previous examples of YouTube taking legal actions against false flaggers.

Potential Solutions

• Better enforcement against impersonator strikes to prevent misuse and protect creators.
• Hope for YouTube to improve and make the strike system more robust.

Final Thoughts

• Fraudulent strikes are an escalating problem that needs immediate attention.
• Advocating for YouTube to take decisive action to prevent further abuse.