Support us on Patreon
PayPalHere is your daily dose of what the heck? YouTube and the mighty algorithm decided for no apparent reason, that my Steam Deck video was "harmful and dangerous".
Over the last few months the GamingOnLinux YouTube channel has managed to gain around triple the amount of followers it once had. This is mainly due to the Steam Deck, and my decision to cover updates to it both in articles and in short concise videos (and people seem to really like the format).
According to YouTube though, this video was just a step too far:
YouTube videos require cookies, you must accept their cookies to view. View cookie preferences.
Direct Link
Direct Link
An email lands in my inbox from YouTube, noting it was removed for violations against their "harmful and dangerous policy". That's right, the Steam Deck is a dangerous weapon and we should all need to carry around a license or something? Perhaps having two of them and dual-wielding is just too much for YouTube.
Thankfully, after going through the appeals process, the video was restored.
YouTube videos require cookies, you must accept their cookies to view. View cookie preferences.
Direct Link
Direct Link
It's another reminder that moderation bots are stupid and having all your eggs in one basket is not a great idea either.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
The comments on this article are closed.
All posts need to follow our rules. For users logged in: please hit the Report Flag icon on any post that breaks the rules or contains illegal / harmful content. Guest readers can email us for any issues.
Mohandevir Aug 19, 2022
Probably the bot made this decisions based on "The fear of the unknown"! 
Ridiculous!
Ridiculous!
4 Likes, Who?
Lucky you were able to get the video restored..... A lot of other YouTubers have not been so lucky.....
8 Likes, Who?
I like how they write their team has reviewed the content where it's obvious no human has looked at it at that point.
15 Likes, Who?
Cue the post obligatory post on Odysee comment with all the other Open Source / FOSS people. ;p
Youtube really does suck though ... case in point: look up "Totally Not Mark" on Youtube
1 Likes, Who?
Not amazing.
Alphabet/Google/Youtube become authoritarian trash.
Alphabet/Google/Youtube become authoritarian trash.
7 Likes, Who?
While this was obviously a bug in their algorithm, said algorithm is also preventing brainwash videos from turning your child into a terrorist, racist etc.
Would you have rathered such an algorithm not exist? People should bear in mind the terrible complexity that such an algorithm entails. Can *you* code such an algorithm? If not, you can't expect it all to work flawlessly.
Would you have rathered such an algorithm not exist? People should bear in mind the terrible complexity that such an algorithm entails. Can *you* code such an algorithm? If not, you can't expect it all to work flawlessly.
5 Likes, Who?
StalePopcorn Aug 19, 2022
Maybe an Odysee mirror? I'm not sure if they've implemented a 'st0opitr0n' bot yet.
2 Likes, Who?
slaapliedje Aug 19, 2022
haha, were you trying to subvert the populous to your Linux-gaming ways? Evil Liam, plotting to overthrow the governments of the world with your Steam Deck news!
5 Likes, Who?
While this was obviously a bug in their algorithm, said algorithm is also preventing brainwash videos from turning your child into a terrorist, racist etc.If your child can get of trail just by watching some videos than there are clearly some other issues. Also in that case rating the video as "not qualified for kids" would be enough.
Would you have rathered such an algorithm not exist? People should bear in mind the terrible complexity that such an algorithm entails. Can *you* code such an algorithm? If not, you can't expect it all to work flawlessly.
There would be plenty of options for YouTube to do a better job(let creators rate their videos them self, have different levels of visibility, hire more moderators, have a better reporting system etc), also there are other issues with the algorithm like hiding content from subscribed viewers and promoting content that YouTube finds for some reason more promotable.
Yes no system is perfect but YouTube clearly isnt doing enough, this isnt a new issue but an old one.
5 Likes, Who?
Kimyrielle Aug 19, 2022
It's generally a disturbing development when a handful of super-large corporations unilaterally decide what we can see, post or access on the internet. These people are deciding on content rules in some conference rooms that affect us all, without having any democratic legitimization to do that. Deciding what content or service is illegal is the elected government's job, not Google's, Meta's or Apple's. It's about high-time to pass legislation that services cannot deny or limit user access to any information or service that's legal in the user's jurisdiction.
9 Likes, Who?
Well it is dangerous. Strong risk of addiction? People may get the urge to install a totally free os on their other systems? A device which is repair friendly? Running ROMs from other parties on it *cough* Nintendo *couch*?
All bad influences.
All bad influences.
5 Likes, Who?
Harmful and Dangerous to the Windows ecosystem, maybe?Microsoft has YouTube bots on payroll lmao
2 Likes, Who?
I guess the video made the bot really hot and bothered. It's probably grumbling now about why don't the humans understand the scandalous raw sexuality of that alluring Steam Deck getting sizzling updates right there on screen!
7 Likes, Who?
If anyone else here enjoys food-science and debunking videos, they might already know of something similar that happened to a video by a food-scientist/debunking expert called Ann Reardon recently, who warned about and explained the science behind a lethal "craft hack" found all over YouTube that's on record as having killed dozens of people around the world at the time of writing.
It got quite high up in the search results for the dangerous topic, thus acting as a warning, but was then suddenly removed by YouTube, who left the many dangerous tutorial videos up, and removed the debunking video for being "harmful and dangerous"! It was down for several days, which affected its placement in searches and promotions, thanks to The Algorithm. (I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but I admit that this one made me raise an eyebrow considering how profitable "craft hacks" videos are known to be.
)
Obviously, in this case with Liam's video we can laugh at how stupid it is and I'm sure that the video's gaming subject-matter will help get it back on track more easily post-reinstatement, but this is why better human reviewing is needed, because it's also happening with actually-dangerous topics that those who don't know better can easily gain access to. As one of the viewers of the creator I previously mentioned, I feel obliged to note that YouTube has policies against life-endangering pranks but not against life-endangering "craft hacks", and I can tell you from experience with my younger relatives that kids search for easy arts and crafts on YouTube all the time.
Last edited by Pengling on 19 August 2022 at 5:41 pm UTC
It got quite high up in the search results for the dangerous topic, thus acting as a warning, but was then suddenly removed by YouTube, who left the many dangerous tutorial videos up, and removed the debunking video for being "harmful and dangerous"! It was down for several days, which affected its placement in searches and promotions, thanks to The Algorithm. (I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but I admit that this one made me raise an eyebrow considering how profitable "craft hacks" videos are known to be.
)Obviously, in this case with Liam's video we can laugh at how stupid it is and I'm sure that the video's gaming subject-matter will help get it back on track more easily post-reinstatement, but this is why better human reviewing is needed, because it's also happening with actually-dangerous topics that those who don't know better can easily gain access to. As one of the viewers of the creator I previously mentioned, I feel obliged to note that YouTube has policies against life-endangering pranks but not against life-endangering "craft hacks", and I can tell you from experience with my younger relatives that kids search for easy arts and crafts on YouTube all the time.
Last edited by Pengling on 19 August 2022 at 5:41 pm UTC
2 Likes, Who?
The "How your content violated the policy" is pretty telling:
Somehow the algorithm marked the video basically as piracy (or explaining how to pirate video games / software).
It would be interesting to know exactly what in the video caused it to do that. That's one of the rare videos Liam posts that doesn't include gameplay footage, only changelogs of steam os.
If I had to guess, it may have been the mention of a software version that isn't currently available yet (steam os 3.4 beta update). The algorithm may have mistook the intent of the video as being how to get it early and/or leaked or somesuch.
Last edited by lectrode on 19 August 2022 at 5:42 pm UTC
Content that shows viewers how to gain unauthorized free access to audio content, audiovisual content, full video games, software or streaming services that normally require payment is not allowed. This policy applies to videos, video descriptions, comments, live streams, and any other YouTube product or feature. Keep in mind that this list is not comprehensive.
Somehow the algorithm marked the video basically as piracy (or explaining how to pirate video games / software).
It would be interesting to know exactly what in the video caused it to do that. That's one of the rare videos Liam posts that doesn't include gameplay footage, only changelogs of steam os.
If I had to guess, it may have been the mention of a software version that isn't currently available yet (steam os 3.4 beta update). The algorithm may have mistook the intent of the video as being how to get it early and/or leaked or somesuch.
Last edited by lectrode on 19 August 2022 at 5:42 pm UTC
1 Likes, Who?
For channel authors YouTube may suck, but for consumption YouTube is pretty good. I watch the channels I like and subscribe to and rarely watch their content suggestions. I occasionally search for some songs I might not find on Spotify or Apple Music. So, for me YT is decent enough for what it does.
Curiosity Stream/Nebula isn't any better and they charge a premium now to view indie/non-mainstream content ($80/year). Odysee isn't very good at all. The content is low quality and sparse and their search and performance is subpar (I'm being kind). There aren't any "good guy" options out there right now.
On the plus side, now I know GoL has a YT channel and I subscribed.
Curiosity Stream/Nebula isn't any better and they charge a premium now to view indie/non-mainstream content ($80/year). Odysee isn't very good at all. The content is low quality and sparse and their search and performance is subpar (I'm being kind). There aren't any "good guy" options out there right now.
On the plus side, now I know GoL has a YT channel and I subscribed.
1 Likes, Who?
The "How your content violated the policy" is pretty telling:Despite my earlier all-out personalization of the bot
Content that shows viewers how to gain unauthorized free access to audio content, audiovisual content, full video games, software or streaming services that normally require payment is not allowed. This policy applies to videos, video descriptions, comments, live streams, and any other YouTube product or feature. Keep in mind that this list is not comprehensive.
Somehow the algorithm marked the video basically as piracy (or explaining how to pirate video games / software).
It would be interesting to know exactly what in the video caused it to do that. That's one of the rare videos Liam posts that doesn't include gameplay footage, only changelogs of steam os.
If I had to guess, it may have been the mention of a software version that isn't currently available yet (steam os 3.4 beta update). The algorithm may have mistook the intent of the video as being how to get it early and/or leaked or somesuch.
, I don't think that what these algorithms do is close enough to human thinking patterns to coherently talk about the algorithm "mistaking the intent" of something. The algorithm flags words and word patterns that have often in the past matched up (according to human programmers or "trainers") with other word pattern examples; it knows not what their intent might be, either the examples or the ones it flags.
4 Likes, Who?
For channel authors YouTube may suck, but for consumption YouTube is pretty good.It depends. The next video recommendations have a tendency to point towards conspiracy theories, dangerous crafts hacks and other weird stuff.
Some of the age gate flags are very weird. A few years ago people started abusing the system to soft ban some music videos by a German TV station that made fun of Putin although there wasn't anything age sensitive at all.
It would be interesting to know exactly what in the video caused it to do that.Maybe the discussing changelog. Too much text on the screen. It seems that many of the videos that instruct the viewers in questionable methods of software acquisition write URLs in a text editor.
2 Likes, Who?
I get what you're saying, but like I mention in the post you quoted, I typically don't look at their content recommendations, just my channel subscriptions. The recommendations on my page personally aren't filled with conspiracy theory stuff so much as content I'm just not interested in. Also, the top section of recommendations are all channels I follow so I see tech and music stuff mostly, except for the one comedian I follow (Eleanor Morton). Down below that are all the stuff they think I'll like or want to push at me. Gamers Nexus is probably the most socially provocative channel I have so most of my recommendations are "boring" anyway.For channel authors YouTube may suck, but for consumption YouTube is pretty good.It depends. The next video recommendations have a tendency to point towards conspiracy theories, dangerous crafts hacks and other weird stuff.
Some of the age gate flags are very weird. A few years ago people started abusing the system to soft ban some music videos by a German TV station that made fun of Putin although there wasn't anything age sensitive at all.
It would be interesting to know exactly what in the video caused it to do that.Maybe the discussing changelog. Too much text on the screen. It seems that many of the videos that instruct the viewers in questionable methods of software acquisition write URLs in a text editor.
The big takeaway I got from watching Liam's video post about the issue is that having a dialog with a real person about the specifics is nearly impossible. That is true for issues with other Google services as well and one of the big reasons I avoid using their services when at all possible. I'm not sure there is much that can be done about it.
Last edited by randyl on 19 August 2022 at 6:33 pm UTC
1 Likes, Who?
See more from me