YouTube Calls Crypto Purge a Mistake But Many Videos Still Missing

YouTube erroneously purged cryptocurrency education videos from its video-sharing platform this week but claims to have reinstated them, according to a spokesperson.

Responding to allegations that it had intentionally deleted content from cryptocurrency education channels ChrisDunnTV, Crypto Tips, BTC Sessions and others in what apparently amounted to hundreds of missing videos, the spokesperson said that YouTube made "The wrong call."

"With the massive volume of videos on our site, sometimes we make the wrong call. When it's brought to our attention that a video has been removed mistakenly, we act quickly to reinstate it. We also offer uploaders the ability to appeal removals and we will re-review the content," the spokesperson said.

YouTube has issued near-identical statements after previous inadvertent video purges.

The spokesperson further stated that YouTube has not changed any policies related to cryptocurrency videos.

In spite of this, some YouTubers claim their deleted videos remain inaccessible.

"Today, YouTube not only took down the videos that they reinstated yesterday, but they took down at least one other video that they'd never taken down before," Dunn said.

At press time a number of videos are still missing from Dunn's channel and others that CoinDesk directly asked YouTube about, like Crypto Tips.

The conflicting statements are sure to increase the furious speculation over why YouTube deleted the videos in the first place.

Dunn admits he has no idea why it occurred - not all of his deleted videos had to do with crypto - but said it could be the work of someone "Maliciously reporting" him and others, or, perhaps, faulty video-flagging AI.Dunn said YouTube flagged videos as "Harmful or dangerous content" and the "Sale of regulated goods." Dunn told CoinDesk that he does not sell products on his channel and does not monetize his videos with ads.