Google’s automated systems removed several videos showing robots fighting citing policies against “deliberate infliction of animal suffering”.
According to reports in Motherboard and the Verge recently, YouTube mistakenly removed several videos from popular “battle bot” channels like Maker’s Muse and channels run by BattleBots Contenders like Jamison Go (Team Sawblaze) and Sarah Pohorecky (Team Uppercut), among others. The videos were removed citing YouTube’s animal cruelty policies such as those governing “dogfighting and cockfighting.”
Since the removals were highly publicised, YouTube has backpedalled, reinstating the videos. A YouTube spokesperson told Motherboard: “With the massive volume of videos on our site, sometimes we make the wrong call.”

Screenshot: Jamison Go (Motherboard)
The spokesperson also highlighted that when it is “brought to our attention that a video has been removed mistakenly, we act quickly to reinstate it.” Uploaders also have the ability to “appeal removals” and have their content re-reviewed.
It is unclear what caused this mishap, but it seems that some robots in the videos were named after animals, so YouTube’s automated systems could have misidentified their content based on this alone. In any case, it’s highly unlikely that a human being made the call to ban the videos, but the mistake calls into question the effectiveness of YouTube’s policy enforcement – automated or otherwise.
You might also like
More from Youtube
YouTube Now Lets You Add A Voiceover To Your Shorts
YouTube is adding one of its most-requested features to Shorts; the ability to add a voiceover, like narration and original …
YouTube Expands Offense Warnings To Desktop, Updates Payments System
New updates for creators! A dedicated payments account within AdSense, and warnings on potentially offensive text detected by AI.
YouTube Offering Podcast Networks Up To $300k To Film Episodes
YouTube is offering financial incentives to podcasting networks to adapt their shows to a video format and share them on …
YouTube Adds Guided Support For Community Guideline Violations
YouTube has updated its review process to provide creators with specifics about the reportedly violative video and facilitate a resolution.
YouTube Announces #YouTubeBlack Voices Creator Class Of 2022
YouTube's second edition of its $100 million #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund has announced 135 worldwide winners.
YouTube Is Looking To Innovate Its Product Offering With NFTs And DAOs
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki hinted at the possibility that YouTube will expand its range of creator offerings to include NFTs.
YouTube Significantly Improves User Experience On TVs
Google has announced new features that improve the user experience on its TV app, to save users time when using …
YouTube Is Enhancing Its Studio Mobile App
YouTube Studio is bringing its mobile app in line with its desktop version for creators to better manage their channels …
YouTube Introduces New Tools And Features In Support Of Shorts
YouTube's product development team has announced the addition of several updates that will enhance the creation and experience of Shorts.