Pokemon YouTuber banned by AI finally gets channel back after creator stole his video
YouTubePokémon YouTuber SplashPlate has finally gotten his channel back after getting banned by YouTube after another creator reuploaded their content, and his appeals were initially denied by the platform.
Over the last few weeks, YouTube has been clamping down on “low-value” and “misleading” content. They’ve been banning channels out of the blue, with many creators claiming they’ve been “wrongfully” terminated.
There have been genuine examples of this, including Tech YouTuber Enderman, who was banned after having their account associated with another that had received multiple strikes. YouTube has responded to these strikes, noting that human members of their moderation team work with AI to look over cases.
On December 9, YouTuber SplashPlate, who focuses on Pokémon content, sounded the alarm after receiving a ban from YouTube.
YouTuber SplashPlate banned after another channel takes video
In SplashPlate’s post, the YouTuber said how his account had been struck down over YouTube’s “circumvention policy,” which claimed that he was trying to get around the ban that had befallen another channel.
“All my content was my own, I’ve never reposted anyone’s thing,” he said, noting how another account, EvoultionArmy, had reposted a viral edit of his on their account – even though it had the SplashPlateVGC watermark.
That account has also been banned. “I think YouTube has mistaken their reupload of my content as me uploading a terminated user’s content. Look at the watermark! This is my content,” he added.
SplashPlate has received messages from the TeamYouTube X account, confirming that his ban will remain in place.
“They didn’t read the tweet, they didn’t watch the video. They still believe i’m circumventing a ban,” he added, showing off a screenshot of the message exchange.
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MoistCr1TiKaL weighs in on SplahPlate ban
YouTube star MoistCr1TiKaL even weighed in, highlighting SplashPlate’s story in his December 9 video about YouTube’s CEO responding to concerns around the use of AI in moderation.
“You punished the real person, not the imposter. The AI tools are getting better every week, huh? There are stories daily about the fuck ups from AI moderation tools,” Moist said.
Timestamp of 6:55
YouTube says SplashPlate ban decision is “final”
As of December 10, SplashPlate has been told that the ban is “final” by YouTube, who added that they’ve “exhausted all efforts” regarding the termination.
“This is the email i’ve just received in response from YouTube’s support. They believe i’m still circumventing a ban and my termination is correct. This is despite all the proof that this is a blatant error in their AI,” he said.
SplashPlate’s YouTube channel reinstated
Later that same day, SplashPlate announced that his YouTube channel had finally been reinstated, celebrating the victory in a post on X.
“WE ARE BACK ONLINE!” he wrote. “Thank you all SO much for boosting my posts, I knew that I was NEVER at fault and this was an AI error.”
The YouTuber attached an email he’d received from the platform, where the company admitted his channel was “not in violation” of their Terms of Service and thanked him for his patience.
However, SplashPlate isn’t done speaking out about the situation, and wants to use his experience to shine a light on YouTube’s AI moderation.
“This doesn’t end with me, hundreds of people are being terminated DAILY due to similar errors. More people need our help. Don’t stop pushing,” he wrote.
This news comes after YouTube’s CEO, Neal Mohan, stated that the platform will continue to use AI in its moderation despite creator backlash, saying, “AI will make our ability to detect and enforce on violative content better, more precise, able to cope with scale.”