By posting a video on YouTube, this child did not imagine for a single second that he was going to ruin his mother’s digital life. The consequences were rapid and very direct, particularly financial.
Google manages billions of pieces of data every day. The vast majority do not come from the company, for example the sites displayed in the search engine, or the mobile applications of the Play store. In the pile, there are necessarily elements that are fraudulent or contrary to the conditions of use of the platforms. This is why Google can ban a site from its search results or remove applications from the Play Store, for example. But the company can also simply close your account, with the consequences that entails.
It all started when Jennifer Watkins, an employee in the medical sector in Australia, received a email from Google telling him that his YouTube channel has been closed. She finds it a bit weird, but she doesn’t use YouTube. Maybe the deletion happens because his channel is inactive, nothing serious. Quickly, this mother of 7-year-old twins realizes that it’s not just about the video platform. His Google account itself is suspendedand she therefore loses access to all associated services.
This woman is banned from Google because her son posted a video on YouTube
By examining the emails received, she notices that suspension results from uploading a video to YouTube. She never did, but her sons did. With a tablet connected to their mother’s Google account, they occasionally publish videos of them doing fun dances. They rarely have more than 5 views, but the content of the last one did not go unnoticed by Google. Jennifer Watkins didn’t see it, but “apparently it was a video of his behind,” she explains, speaking of one of her sons.
One of the boy’s classmates had challenged him to “make a nude video.” Google spots it a few minutes after publication and flags it as possible sexual exploitation of a child. Result: the mother can no longer check your professional emailsher diaryanswer to messages from his bank or even order in a fast food restaurant via their mobile application, linked to their Google account. “It hurts me financially,” she says.
Despite appeals, Google refuses to give him access to his account
Google leaves the possibility of appeal such a decision by filling out a form. Jennifer Watkins does so and explains that the video was made without any ulterior motive and without her knowledge. Never mind, his appeal is rejected. Several times in fact. A Google agent replied that even if his son meant no harm, it was still a violation of company policy. The exchanges will last more than a month, in vain.
In desperation, the mother contacted The New York Times newspaper to tell her story. A day after the journalist calls on Google for explanations, his account is unlocked. In a statement, the firm responds: “We do not want our platforms to be used to endanger or exploit children, and there is widespread demand for Internet platforms to take the strongest measures to detect and prevent abuse sex on children. In this case, we understand that the offending content was not posted maliciously.”
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This is not the first time such a story has happened. If she has a “happy” ending here, despite the obligation to involve the press, this is not always the case. In 2021, a father takes photos of his naked baby with his Android smartphone. He suspects an infection in his private parts and his doctor would like images in advance to save time on the diagnosis. From, He lost access to his Google account and was the subject of a police investigation for child sexual abuse. Despite the conclusions that exonerated him and his various appeals, he never recovered his account. For their part, Jennifer Watkins’ children are now deprived of the Internet.