Hosting and Media Servers Request Attention in the Sights of Big Tech Companies

Jeff Geerling, a renowned figure in the open source tech and DIY community, has found himself embroiled in a contentious dispute with YouTube. The platform has removed two of Geerling's videos, including one about the release of LibreELEC on Raspberry Pi 5, labelling them as "Harmful or dangerous content".

The videos in question, titled "I replaced my Apple TV-with a Raspberry Pi" and a guide on setting up LibreELEC on a Raspberry Pi 5, have been taken down due to alleged violations of YouTube's platform policies. However, the tech creator has yet to receive a clear explanation for the strikes on his videos.

Geerling's videos provide practical advice on setting up open-source media centre software on Raspberry Pi devices, a popular choice among DIY enthusiasts. The removal of these videos has sparked concerns about the future of open-source content on YouTube.

In response to the strikes, Geerling has decided to move some of his content to Floatplane, a platform that caters to creators who value open-source and self-hosting content. The decision comes as YouTube's reach and revenue play a significant role in enabling Geerling to create new content.

However, moving to a more liberal/open platform like PeerTube presents its own challenges. With a fragmented and small audience, it becomes difficult for creators to sustain financially.

This is not the first time Geerling has faced such issues. In October 2024, his video on setting up Jellyfin on a NAS was taken down for the same reason. After an appeal, the strike for the Jellyfin video was accepted, but the appeal for the Raspberry Pi video was rejected.

To avoid a permanent guidelines strike, Geerling was forced to undergo Policy Training, a Big Tech-approved thought correction initiative.

The saga has led to a wider discussion about the role of tech giants like YouTube in shaping the internet landscape. Some argue that YouTube, being too big and arrogant, is unable to listen to independent creators. Others suggest that platforms like the website It's FOSS, which publishes self-hosting content, might hold back on posting such content if posting on YouTube results in strikes.

In a detailed blog post, Geerling outlines what happened and what he plans to do next. He encourages his followers to consider supporting him on Floatplane and to be vigilant about the censorship of open-source content on YouTube.

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