These are rules just updated by Google, and will come into effect in 30 days time.
Intends to sell firearms or certain firearms accessories through direct sales (e.g., private sales by individuals) or links to sites that sell these items. These accessories include but may not be limited to accessories that enable a firearm to simulate automatic fire or convert a firearm to automatic fire (e.g., bump stocks, gatling triggers, drop-in auto sears, conversion kits), and high capacity magazines (i.e., magazines or belts carrying more than 30 rounds
There is more included on the Google page linked. This means that, if enforced, Forgotten Weapons (a historic channel designed to explore intricate and obscure gun designs, often spanning several centuries' worth of designs) will no longer be able to function whatsoever. Not only do they often show light machine guns and machine guns, the weapons they feature are often up for historic auction. Boy, sure am glad we got those criminals off the streets of youtube. Oh, and if you want a video tutorial on how to reload bullets for precision target shooting or hunting, you're not welcome here either.
Google's updated policies itself are the only source for this, and the Sensationalist Headlines Sticky thread with the rules is MIA, so I hope this follows it.
Policies on content featuring firearms
WHAT THE FUCK
NO, WHAT ABOUT GUN JESUS
IAN IS PURE OF SOUL FUCK YOU GOOGLE UGH
Guess we'll switch to PornHub.
Knowing Youtube, it'll probably be enforced very poorly and an absolute shit show. While I can understand how no one should necessarily be sharing stuff like this in videos:
Provides instructions on manufacturing a firearm, ammunition, high capacity magazine, homemade silencers/suppressors, or certain firearms accessories such as those listed above. This also includes instructions on how to convert a firearm to automatic or simulated automatic firing capabilities.
Shows users how to install the above-mentioned accessories or modifications.
...the first clause being "intends to sell firearms" is crazy stupid. Do all gun shop owners now get kicked off of Youtube?
Another day, another mind-boggling decision from Youtube's management.
Yeah, the second two clauses I can mostly see (despite them not existing on youtube in much regard to begin with). Nobody wants potentially shady manufacturing on their website. But the first clause makes zero fucking sense whatsoever. Anyone who runs or is associated with a gun shop (Military Arms Channel, Iraqveteran8888, Hickok45, Forgotten Weapons, etc) is banished. Anyone who reviews or shoots guns that are "scary" is banished. What were they thinking?
This makes zero sense. They basically just made an extremely biased policy change because... reasons? Sounds like someone at Google really hates gun owners.
I wanna see the gun-control folks on here try to debate this one.
Hope they don't touch Forgotten Weapons - I love their videos.
Well, they're HQ'ed in Silicon Valley. It shouldn't really be shocking.
I'm mostly surprised that they actually managed to get the definition of "high capacity" correct.
Once again, rich uneducated folks making sweeping decisions on something they know nothing about. I'm ashamed to live in the same state as these goons.
Looking at it, if my lawyer-speak is any good, it doesn't look like a ban on firearms.
Intends to sell firearms or certain firearms accessories through direct sales (e.g., private sales by individuals) or links to sites that sell these items. These accessories include but may not be limited to accessories that enable a firearm to simulate automatic fire or convert a firearm to automatic fire (e.g., bump stocks, gatling triggers, drop-in auto sears, conversion kits), and high capacity magazines (i.e., magazines or belts carrying more than 30 rounds).
This seems to be targeted against sellers of any gun or gun part, so if you aren't using it for marketing you shouldn't be swept up in this. Since most channels are just demonstrating and not selling, they should be fine.
Provides instructions on manufacturing a firearm, ammunition, high capacity magazine, homemade silencers/suppressors, or certain firearms accessories such as those listed above. This also includes instructions on how to convert a firearm to automatic or simulated automatic firing capabilities.
Key word is "instructions on manufacturing", as in instructions on manufacturing ammunition, instructions on manufacturing high capacity magazines, etc. I can see why they would have this in place due to the fact that manufacturing firearms or parts ranges from dangerous to illegal. If you would like to do this safely (such as making your own ammunition) you should probably seek a firearms expert, not a youtube video.
Shows users how to install the above-mentioned accessories or modifications.
This is the one I'm most worried about, since the most zealous enforcement of it could in theory pick up any video where someone loads a high capacity magazine.
From what I understand, this shouldn't effect channels like Hickok 45 or Forgotten Weapons, but the last point does give them grounds to take down some videos that wouldn't be breaking the rules otherwise. Workaround by the channel owners would be jump-cutting any time a large magazine is loaded
Did anybody read the article?
This is banning channels that operate as storefronts for weapons. Not gun channels.
So basically no ads for sale of firearms and firearm accessories, and no instructions on how to create, modify, or install firearms and firearms accessories. Am I getting that right?
Not really a fan, and I don't even follow any gun or weapon channels.
Forgotten Weapons is affiliated with a gun auction though, isn't it? Rock Island Auctions I think?
Thats what basically what forgotten weapons is. He talks about guns going to auction and links to the auction.
For the most part I think the firearm content people are interested would still be allowed, but I am concerned about the "links to sites that sell these items" part of it. This seems like it could smack some people's revenue right in the face. Forgotten Weapons may be a good example of this because a whole lot of their content is featuring auction guns and links to them. So while the content may continue to be permitted, their ability to produce it may be hampered.
Yes, right next to the part where it says
Intends to sell firearms or certain firearms accessories [...] or links to sites that sell these items
They won't give a shit if you fire enough bullets to melt a gun, they just don't want people to be using youtube as a platform to market these items to an audience
Or they could turn to Patreon like most Youtubers do these days...
Dumb decision on their part
As you said, most already do, so that's not really an alternative to make up for or avoid potential new loses (they may raise more on it, but that's not viable for all channels). Plus it doesn't necessarily solve access/sponsorship unless the YouTubers begin to pay for access instead of receiving access.
It says direct sales. What's to stop Forgotten Weapons from merely claiming sponsorship?
I get what you mean, but this is YouTube we're talking about. They're not exactly bright, and will most definitely ban a channel showing a gun(or an accessory) that doesn't even get linked to a store selling it. I'm not saying it will happen today or tomorrow, but it will definitely happen eventually.
Direct sales or links to sites that sell are restricted. I'd expect a sponsorship that includes links to a selling site, as Forgotten Weapons does, to run afoul of that rule. They certainly could try to work around it by not linking to the site, but I doubt sponsors would enjoy that.
That people that support guns can't read?
This is so asinine it's hard to comprehend why they thought this was a good idea.
Ian is such a wonderful, informative dude, I really hope he doesn't get screwed by this.
Nothing sudden about it.
i think hub like GunTube or WeaponsTube or WarTube become soon reality
because of the 'politically correct' decisions to not support videos guns or weapons in general
tho WarTube gunna be most problematic because what else the usual news media will be reporting then ?
ForgottenWeapons won't die, it'll just be moved over to it's own channel that already exist on InRange TV. He's been uploading there in forever.
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