How to Remove a YouTube Video of Yourself Uploaded Without Permission

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If someone uploads a video featuring you on YouTube without your consent, YouTube allows you to request its removal through a few simple steps. This guide explains how to request the takedown of a video that includes your image or likeness without permission. The same process applies to videos uploaded as YouTube Shorts.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Report the Video to YouTube

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  1. 1
    Go to YouTube’s “ Privacy Complaint Process ” page. Open https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/142443 in your web browser on either your mobile device or computer.
  2. 2
    Click on the Continue button. You can find the blue Continue button at the end of the sentence on your screen.
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  3. 3
    Click on the “I still want to submit a privacy complaint“ button. If you want to know more about YouTube's harassment policy, you can click on the “I still want to submit a privacy complaint” option. Otherwise, continue with the second option.
  4. 4
    Hit the Continue button. Like we mentioned before, YouTube first recommends contacting the uploader. If you have already done that and didn't receive a positive response or you can't find their contact details, you can click the Continue button here.
  5. 5
    Click on the “I have reviewed the Community Guidelines” option. YouTube recommends reporting the video using the Report button on the app and website first if it violates YouTube's Community Guidelines. If you have already done this, you can continue to the next page by clicking on the “I have reviewed the Community Guidelines” button.
  6. 6
    Click on the Continue button. Before continuing to the next step, you must confirm you're not using this contact form to harass other people on the site or to create false privacy reports. Doing this will lead to your YouTube account being suspended.
  7. 7
    Click on the Report privacy violation option. YouTube once again defines what you can report using this method. This includes: Someone shared your “image” or “full name,” which refers to images, audio, video footage, or text that uniquely identifies you, without your permission.
  8. 8
    Provide your full legal name. Make sure not to make any mistakes, as this may affect your ability to contact YouTube in the future.
  9. 9
    Choose your country. Tap on the box under “Country” then select your country from the list.
  10. 10
    Provide your email address. Double-check the email ID to make sure you haven’t made any mistakes, because future communication with the YouTube team will use this email address.
  11. 11
    Select whether you are reporting for yourself or someone else. Tap on the box with the “Select one” title, then choose the correct option from it.
    • YouTube requires that the privacy complaint be submitted directly by the individual in the video or their authorized legal representative. If the individual involved is your friend, relative, or coworker, please have them contact YouTube directly. Selecting those options won't be useful.
  12. 12
    Provide additional information. If you selected anyone other than yourself from the above options, you have to provide additional information. For example:
    • If you choose “Yes, a minor,” you have to provide the full legal name of the person you represent.
    • If you choose the “Yes, a legal client or guardianship” option, you have to provide the full legal name of the person you represent, your relationship with the person you are representing, and any additional context.
  13. 13
    Choose “No” for the question Was your image or voice altered or generated with AI? since we are discussing your personal video or image.
    • However, if you are reporting AI-generated content, you can select the “Yes” option. The next steps won’t have major changes.
  14. 14
    Choose what personal info is being shared. Tick the box next to the “Image” option.
  15. 15
    Provide how many places on YouTube this info is being shared. If your image or video is shared in just one YouTube video, choose 1 from the list. If multiple videos, choose how many times. Also, if your photo or video is shared in multiple places other than videos, like posts and channels, you can select that number.
  16. 16
    Provide where this info is being shared. Since this article discusses how to remove a video of you from YouTube that someone uploaded without your permission, choose the “Video” option from the list.
  17. 17
    Now provide the link to the YouTube video or Shorts. Go to the video or Shorts you want to report, then copy the link to it. Now paste it into the box under the “What’s the URL of the video?” box. Also, follow the same steps if you selected multiple videos earlier.
    • Make sure to remove the query parameters from the link, because they may prevent you from submitting the link. If you don’t know what "query parameters" are, they are the random letters (and sometimes numbers or symbols) that appear after a question mark (?) in a URL.
  18. 18
    Move to the “Where does your info appear?” section. Tick the box next to the “In the video itself” option.
  19. 19
    Provide timestamps of when your face or body appears. If your info is shown for a duration of time, you can specify it like 3:00-3:10 . Separate multiple timestamps with commas (for example: 3:00-3:10,4:00-5:20 ).
    • Make sure there is no space when writing the timestamps.
  20. 20
    Describe your appearance or action in the video. You have to describe your appearance in the video. This will help YouTube differentiate you from others if the video contains multiple people.
    • YouTube also promises that this info is only reviewed by them and won’t be shared with anyone else.
  21. 21
    Confirm whether this content is a copy of material you posted on your own channel. Choose “No” since we are discussing a privacy violation.
  22. 22
    Tick all the agreement boxes. Before you tick them, make sure to read them all to ensure your report is valid.
  23. 23
    Fill in the “Signature” box with your full name. YouTube will consider this your digital signature, which is legally binding. Also, your name must match the name you entered earlier in the form. Use your government ID to provide the correct name.
  24. 24
    Submit the report. After checking that all the data you provided is correct, hit the Submit button. When you hit it, you will get a “Your email has been sent” message. Now you have to wait for a reply from YouTube.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Wait for the response and the completion of other processes

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  1. 1
    Check your email inbox. YouTube will send a confirmation message to the email address you provided earlier.
  2. 2
    Read the email carefully and save the reference number in the mail. YouTube will give you a reference number for your complaint. Saving this number will help in future communication if there is any delay in the process.
  3. When you submit a complaint, to give the uploader a chance to remove or edit their video, YouTube may notify them about the potential violation. YouTube confirms that your privacy is respected during this process and they won’t share your identity or contact info with the uploader without your consent.
    • YouTube gives the uploader 48 hours to act on the complaint. If the uploader removes the video during these 48 hours, the filed complaint is closed. If the potential privacy violation remains on the site after 48 hours, YouTube queues the complaint for review by the YouTube Team. Your complaint will be carefully reviewed.
  4. If the video is removed by the uploader, you will be notified via email. If the video is still up after 48 hours since you submitted the complaint, YouTube will contact you to verify your identity and guide you through the next steps.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Verify your Identification

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  1. 1
    Check for an email from “YouTube Legal Support.” You will receive an email from YouTube to verify your ID for the next action. Open the email and read it carefully.
  2. If you are submitting this report for yourself, use your own ID. If you are reporting on behalf of someone else as a legally authorized representative, you may also need to provide your identification. Read the email carefully to understand which identification documents are required in your case, as this may vary depending on the options you selected earlier.
    • You can use government-issued IDs like a passport or driver's license. If the complaint relates to a minor, you may need to provide a birth certificate.
    • Ensure that the identification you provide includes your full name, photograph, and date of birth (if the privacy complaint involves a minor).
    • You can use photo scanning apps like Adobe Scan to take clear photos of your documents. Additionally, you can take multiple photos if you want to include both sides of your ID.
  3. 3
    Reply to the email with photos of your ID. Click the Reply button under the email from the YouTube team, then attach the photos of your ID.
  4. Your ID and complaint will be carefully reviewed by the YouTube team after this process. It may take a few days to receive a response from YouTube.
  5. 5
    That's it! YouTube will send you an update via email. You can check the link to the video to confirm if it has been taken down. If your report isn’t successful, YouTube will also provide the reason in the email.
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      Tips

      • Try to contact the channel owner first and communicate your concerns to them. Look for contact information in the channel's "About" section or the video's description.
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      • It’s a good idea to check your email inbox at least once a day, as responding to emails from the YouTube legal team after a long delay may not be ideal.
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      • Keep in mind that privacy complaints are different from copyright or Community Guidelines issues. If your original content has been copied, you should consider filing a copyright complaint instead.
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      Warnings

      • If you believe you are in immediate physical danger, contact your local law enforcement or relevant authorities for assistance.
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      • Do not use this process for misuse or fraudulent activities, such as providing false information. Doing so may result in your account being suspended or other legal actions from YouTube.
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      References

      1. https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2801895
      2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB9ImEozqd8

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