Invidious is Dying, Here's Why
Why Invidious isn't functioning properly for you and the clash between Youtube and Invidious
In recent developments, the open-source project Invidious has become entangled in a dispute with YouTube, the video-sharing giant owned by Google. YouTube's legal department issued a cease-and-desist notice to Invidious, alleging violations of YouTube's API Services terms of service and developer policies. Invidious, an alternative front-end to YouTube, allows users to watch videos without advertisements or tracking, thereby safeguarding their privacy. However, the Invidious team asserts that they never agreed to YouTube's terms and are not in violation of them. This article explores the clash between Invidious and YouTube, shedding light on the issues at stake.
1) Why Invidious?
Invidious, an open-source project, offers a user-friendly interface to access YouTube's vast video library. What sets Invidious apart is its ability to provide an ad-free and tracking-free viewing experience. Privacy-conscious users are drawn to Invidious as it enables them to watch any public video on YouTube without the intrusion of advertisements or the fear of being tracked. However, Google, the parent company of YouTube, recently discovered Invidious and alleged that it violates their API Services terms and policies.
2) Does Invidious affect Youtube?
YouTube primarily generates revenue through display advertising, including video ads, and YouTube Premium subscriptions. With an increasing number of ads bombarding users on YouTube, some individuals have sought alternative ways to enjoy the platform without interruptions. YouTube Premium offers such an alternative, albeit at a cost. Other options include using content blockers, third-party apps like Newpipe. This situation could potentially impact a segment of the YouTube user base by eliminating the necessity to directly engage with the platform while still utilizing its services, leading to a direct or indirect loss in revenue.
3) The Cease-and-Desist Notice:
YouTube's legal department has demanded that Invidious cease its operations within seven days, citing violations of YouTube's API Services terms of service and developer policies. The notice asserts that Invidious, as a client using YouTube's API, should display and link to Google's privacy policy while clearly explaining how user information is used and processed. It also states that API clients must not place limitations on YouTube functionality or mimic core user experiences. Failure to comply with the notice may result in further action against Invidious.
4) Invidious' Defense:
The Invidious team has responded to YouTube's claims by emphasizing that they do not use YouTube's official APIs to provide their service. Consequently, they argue that they have never agreed to YouTube's terms and are not in violation of them. The team acknowledges that Google may escalate the situation by contacting GitHub, the project hosting service, to shut down the project or by targeting individual team members. Despite this, Invidious is standing firm and refusing to comply with YouTube's demands unless legally obligated to do so.
5) “What now?”
TheFrenchGhosty, the project manager of Invidious had this to say in his post about Youtube’s request:
What now?
Things will continue normally until they can't anymore.
Assume it's just the start.
Assume they'll ask GitHub to takedown the repos (if so go to our Gitea https://gitea.invidious.io/iv-org ).
Assume the team wont be able to work on Invidious.
You know what you have to do.
May Invidious live and prosper, with, or without us.
PS: We won't do anything unless we have to.
PS-2: If we are forced to quit, any funds remaining will go to Framasoft (and maybe some other organization working on FOSS/privacy)
Additionally he stated on his own blog post titled: “I’m Not Invidious” that the email's address and language do not pertain to the creator or the project itself. He emphasized that Invidious is an open-source project that anyone can contribute to, and the creator is just one of the contributors, citing that Google/YouTube would need to make a direct request to the creator if they genuinely want them to cease their work on Invidious.
6) The Privacy Battle Continues:
The conflict between Invidious and YouTube highlights the challenges faced by privacy-focused projects in the face of established platforms. As users demand greater control over their personal information, alternatives like Invidious have emerged to offer ad-free and tracking-free experiences. However, as demonstrated by YouTube's cease-and-desist notice and Reddit's decision to raise API costs, these initiatives face legal and financial hurdles. The battle for privacy is far from over, as users and privacy advocates continue to navigate the ever-changing landscape of data and monetization in the digital world.