Teen fools YouTube into removing videos

Written by James Delahunty @ 15 Apr 2007 7:17 User comments (16)

A 15 year old boy in Australia caused the removal of hundreds of video clips from Google Inc.'s YouTube service by pretending to be an employee of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). He sent a signed letter to YouTube falsely claiming he represented ABC, and asked the site to remove clips of a popular local comedy series that were uploaded by users of the site.

Shortly after, lawyers for ABC contacted the boy and he apologized for his actions. "Everyone does dumb stuff when they are 15," the head of ABC television comedy, Courtney Gibson, told ABC Radio. "We really appreciate that he's apologized and we'll be following up with him next week." She said it wasn't clear why the teenager decided to take the action.

YouTube does not block video content subject to copyright from being uploaded to the site, but will remove it once requested by the copyright holder. Viacom Inc. has sued Google Inc. and YouTube for more than $1 billion, accusing it of copyright infringement for allowing users to upload its video content.

Source:
Yahoo

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16 user comments

115.4.2007 20:13

XdjxedxdX

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heh stupid little shit

215.4.2007 20:22

ripxrush

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that is hella funny i know a LOT of people are dumb about phishing attempts but this is almost the same he faked out GOOGLE saying he was someone he wasn't! Wounder what it would take to get some C.C. info from GOOGLE??? idiots! there own fault, now everyone knows that they remove stuff without checking any info.

315.4.2007 23:09

ZippyDSM

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all you have to do is spam reports and they will kill it out of it just being reported, even youtube is not big enough to actually check every video reported.

415.4.2007 23:43

gozilla

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this kid is trying to get himself on the Chaser isn't he?

515.4.2007 23:45

Sythun

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lol another phishing attempt but this guy is smart, able to trick google......

616.4.2007 01:07

scorpNZ

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Sounds like he's a prospect for ABC [prospect = basicly someone who is attempting to be a member of a gang but before they are accepted have to do dirty work], next stop prospect for the RIAA..lol..

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 16 Apr 2007 @ 1:08

716.4.2007 13:57

natony

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Originally posted by gozilla:
this kid is trying to get himself on the Chaser isn't he?

Haha, yeah probably... explains why I haven't been able to watch any of my favourite shows on YouTube lately. I didn't think the ABC would give a damn about copyright.

816.4.2007 17:35

club42

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Quote:
Shortly after, lawyers for ABC contacted the boy and he apologized for his actions.

Why? Thats googles own stupid fault for believing him.

Quote:
next stop prospect for the RIAA..lol..

very true.

916.4.2007 20:52

borhan9

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This guy must have been really bored or was put up for a dare. At least he said sorry and has not had anything else added to his punishment.

1019.4.2007 06:31

Oopsla

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Quote:
Shortly after, lawyers for ABC contacted the boy and he apologized for his actions.

Quote:
Why? Thats googles own stupid fault for believing him.

Unlawful impersonation. Maybe? If me and my buddies dressed up as an FBI agents and had fake seizure papers and confiscated your computer for piracy. It would be your dumb luck to believe us but we'd have to make right with the authorities.

Anytime you present yourself as someone else you risk fraud charges. ABC thought it best to play it off and look like a good guy rather then pressing charges and giving the kid a record.

1119.4.2007 07:53

eandtc

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Quote:
Unlawful impersonation. Maybe? If me and my buddies dressed up as an FBI agents and had fake seizure papers and confiscated your computer for piracy.

While I understand the point you are trying to make, your example is a touch much. You are talking about impersonating an officer of the law, trespassing, theft, invasion of privacy, etc., etc. That's nowhere near on the same level as sending a letter to Youtube pretending to be an ABC executive or lawyer.

1219.4.2007 08:02

Steve83

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Whose law did he break? Does Australia have a law against its citizens mailing out funny letters, or does the US have laws against Australians? I get mail all the time that lies to me - who do I call to get the Australian or US government to track them down?

1319.4.2007 10:27

helldiver

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With the RIAA trend I though the ABC lawyer wanted to give him a medal!
I mean he manage with one letter to stop copyright infringement.
Or perhaps the lawyer were angry that he stole their fees...

I find it a good hoax. And hoax are hoax not war declaration or techno-religious statement.

I prefer a 15 year old doing that than drugs or raping around and stabbing little kids.

Just my 5 cents

Best regards

Helldiver

1420.4.2007 01:56

qu1nt3n

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Originally posted by Steve83:
Whose law did he break? Does Australia have a law against its citizens mailing out funny letters, or does the US have laws against Australians? I get mail all the time that lies to me - who do I call to get the Australian or US government to track them down?

Good point!

1520.4.2007 08:09

eandtc

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Let's not forget that only now are laws being passed to prevent pretexting - which is someone else impersonating you to get personal information from someone else.

[EDIT] And, I might add, the RIAA and MPAA want to be excluded from these laws, so they can still be allowed to pretext.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 20 Apr 2007 @ 10:01

1629.6.2007 23:51

rav0

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Originally posted by gozilla:
this kid is trying to get himself on The Chaser isn't he?

el-oh-el. i loled

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Teen fools YouTube into removing videos

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