HACKER Q&A
📣 techsin101

How can I request data for suspended YouTube account?


My youtube account was suspended, I doubt I will be able to make youtube change its mind. I have no idea what happened, but I was really using youtube just to host my videos, not as a career.

I want to get my videos back.

If I go to google takeout, the download section doesn't show youtube. On internet it says you need to go to youtube to download all youtube data. Which can't happen because if I go to youtube page it redirects to your account was suspended page.

I know my data is there, in Google account it shows how many videos ive there, I know GDPR says I should be able to request my data.

But I'm not sure how do I do that?

  👤 mtmail Accepted Answer ✓
GDPR applies to users based in Europe only. If you live in other countries you don't have the same rights. Companies usually build export systems for GDPR and similar so technically it's possible, but there is more reluctance to spend (human) time on such requests when it's not absolutely neccessary.

As European users the best approach is likely to write a letter, directed at their data protection officer (they're required by law to assign one) and add proof you own the account, by whatever data you used to sign up (e.g. copy of passport doesn't help because you probably didn't use that to sign up). Even then expect delays, I think they have 4 weeks to reply, and multiple attempt. I've read the first-hand story of somebody going throught the steps with Amazon and it took several months.