Can someone post a video of me on YouTube without my permission?

Asked by: Jazmin Corwin  |  Last update: June 17, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (22 votes)

Yes, someone can post a video of you on YouTube without your permission, especially if filmed in public, but you have recourse through YouTube's Privacy Complaint Process and potential legal action if it involves private moments, harassment, or commercial use, particularly for children, so you can report it to YouTube or contact the uploader to request removal.

Can someone post a video of you on YouTube without your consent?

If you discover that someone posted either photos or videos of you or your family on a social media site without your permission, the first thing to know is that it is illegal. Keep in mind that every platform has a different privacy policy, so the individual that posts may think they did nothing wrong.

Can I sue someone for posting a video of me on YouTube?

If the recording violates privacy laws, wiretapping laws, or defamation laws, you may have grounds for legal action. A lawyer can help you understand your rights and determine the best course of action. Legal options may include: Filing a lawsuit for invasion of privacy.

What to do if someone posts a video of you without your permission?

If someone posts your photo or video without your permission, you can try to contact them and ask them to take it down if you know who they are. You can then pursue legal action if that person continues to refuse.

Is it legal for someone to video you without permission?

If an AI version of you is used without permission — whether it's in a video, ad, song, or social media post — you have the right to take action, including issuing demands or filing a lawsuit to stop the action that's causing you harm and likely diluting your brand reputation and value.

Posting Video on YouTube Without Consent | QOTD

23 related questions found

Is it illegal for someone to video you without consent?

California is a “two-party consent" state, which means all parties must agree to the recording. It is generally illegal to record someone without their consent. If a recording is made without the other person's consent, it may not be admissible as evidence in court.

Can you sue someone for making AI pictures of you?

If a deepfake uses your likeness to promote a product, service, or brand without your permission, you may have grounds for a lawsuit under the right of publicity laws. Additionally, invasion of privacy claims can arise when deepfakes intrude upon someone's private life or expose private facts without consent.

Is video recording harassment?

Can I legally record workplace harassment in California? Yes, but California is a two-party consent state, meaning you generally need permission from all parties before recording.

How do I report a YouTube privacy violation?

You submit a complaint through YouTube's Privacy Complaint form, identifying the video and explaining why it violates your privacy. You must clearly timestamp where you appear and describe how the video discloses your personal information.

Can you get in trouble for posting someone else's video?

If you use a copyrighted work without authorization, the owner may be entitled to bring an infringement action against you.

Is posting a video of someone defamation?

Online defamation: This involves damaging and untrue statements published on any social media platform, and it can include statements, comments, videos, altered photos, and more. Online defamation poses unique legal challenges.

What is the 30 second rule on YouTube?

The "30-second rule on YouTube" refers to two key concepts: first, the crucial first 30 seconds of a video are vital for hooking viewers to get a meaningful view, and second, it's a guideline for creators to add visual or auditory changes (like B-roll, different angles, or on-screen text) every 30 seconds to maintain engagement and prevent viewers from clicking away. It's not a copyright rule, as using 30 seconds of a copyrighted song doesn't automatically make it fair use. 

How much money per 1000 views on YouTube?

YouTube doesn't pay a fixed rate, but creators generally earn $1 to $30 per 1,000 views, with averages often cited around $2-$12, depending heavily on content niche (finance pays more), viewer location, ad engagement, and video length (longer videos can have mid-roll ads). Short-form videos (YouTube Shorts) pay significantly less, often pennies per thousand views, as revenue is pooled and shared differently.

Is it illegal to repost other people's videos on YouTube?

If you upload a video containing copyrighted content without the copyright owner's permission, you could end up with a Content ID claim. The claim will keep you from monetizing the video, even if you only use a few seconds, such as short uses of popular songs.

What to do when someone has a video of you?

report the picture or video to the website and let them know the situation. untag yourself if possible - this is where you remove a tag identifying you in the picture. contact the person who shared the image and ask them to take it down. get a list of everyone or every website that has shared pictures or videos.

Do you need permission to post a video of someone on YouTube?

This includes footage for a commercial for your business, testimonials from customers, and any contest used to generate income. As a rule of thumb, it is best to have permission before you film someone else.

Does YouTube take harassment seriously?

We don't allow content that targets someone with prolonged insults or slurs based on their physical traits or protected group status. We also don't allow other harmful behaviors, like threats or doxxing. Keep in mind that we take a stricter approach on content that targets minors.

How to get someone's YouTube video taken down?

Submit by email, fax, or mail

Copyright removal requests for video as well as non-video content, such as channel banner images, can be submitted by email, fax, or mail. YouTube and the uploader of the content you're asking to remove may need to get in touch with you about your request.

Can I sue someone for posting a video of me?

Yes, you may be able to sue someone for recording you without your permission, especially if the recording happened in a private setting where you had a reasonable expectation of privacy. Whether the recording was legal depends on factors like consent laws, the nature of the conversation, and how the recording is used.

What is the most common thing people get sued for?

The most common things people sue for fall into categories like personal injury (especially car accidents), contract disputes, and property disputes, often stemming from negligence, failure to meet obligations, or harm caused by another's actions or faulty products, with workplace injuries, medical malpractice, and employment issues also being frequent. 

What is the 30% rule in AI?

The “30% AI rule” is a simple guideline designed to help students (and adults!) use AI responsibly. It means that when you're creating something — whether it's an essay, a project, or a piece of code - no more than about 30% of the work should come directly from AI tools.

How much does it usually cost to sue?

Average lawsuit costs vary dramatically, from around $1,000–$10,000 for small claims to tens of thousands for complex personal injury or contract disputes, with median figures ranging from $43,000 (auto) to $122,000 (malpractice) in serious civil cases, depending heavily on complexity, attorney fees (hourly, retainer, or contingency), discovery, experts, and duration.
 

How many YouTube subscribers do I need to make $2000 a month?

You don't need a specific number of subscribers for $2,000/month; it depends more on views and niche, but expect 50,000 to 100,000+ active subscribers or hundreds of thousands of monthly views (around 400k-2M for AdSense), with higher earnings coming from sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and merchandise in lucrative niches like finance or tech. 

How many YouTube views do I need to make $5000 per month?

To make $5,000/month on YouTube, you generally need 500,000 to over 1 million monthly views from AdSense, but this varies wildly with your niche (finance pays more), audience location, engagement, and ad types; diversifying with sponsorships, merchandise, or affiliate marketing can significantly lower the required views to reach $5k/month.