The theft of gift codes before the release of YouTube videos has raised serious concerns about the access levels of Google employees. Here are the details…
Google Employees Access YouTube Videos Before They Are Published
It has come to light that some Google employees can watch YouTube videos while they are still in draft form, before they are officially published. Unfortunately, this access has led to some malicious actions. Recent leaks have revealed that important videos were accessed prematurely, and even gift codes intended for viewers were used before the videos were published. This situation has raised significant concerns about Google’s internal operations.
Details of the Incidents
Last week, leaks from the PlayStation State of Play event appeared shortly after the content was posted on YouTube. This incident highlighted the level of access Google employees have before videos go live. Subsequent investigations by Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson and reports from 404 Media shed more light on these issues.
In 2022, YouTuber KSI planned to give away over $10,000 worth of Amazon gift card codes in a video. However, all the codes were used before the video was published. This incident led to an internal investigation at YouTube. Similarly, after the leak of the GTA VI trailer by Google employees, another investigation was initiated, although the connection to the previous incident remains unclear.
According to 404 Media’s report, Google’s internal database records revealed that a 2017 Nintendo leak was carried out by Google employees. A Reddit user shared a screenshot of Yoshi’s Crafted World just before it was announced at E3. The screenshot showed a URL from “admin.youtube.com,” indicating that Google employees accessed the special version.
Google confirmed that an employee intentionally leaked confidential Nintendo information. The report stated, “A Google employee deliberately leaked private Nintendo information.” It was noted that the employee was a temporary editor who downloaded the video with an admin account and shared the unpublished Nintendo feature with a friend. Later, it was claimed that the incident was “not intentional.”
Implications and Necessary Measures
YouTube and Google are currently facing tough times due to the premature access and leaks by their employees. The company needs to review its internal security protocols to prevent such incidents in the future. What measures do you think Google should take to prevent such leaks? Have you ever experienced anything similar? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
