YouTube has terminated two popular channels that produced misleading AI-generated movie trailers, citing violations of its spam and metadata policies. The channels, Screen Culture and KH Studio, amassed over 2 million subscribers by posting fake trailers for non-existent films. This action follows earlier demonetization efforts and highlights tensions around AI content on the platform.
In early 2025, YouTube demonetized Screen Culture and KH Studio after other creators complained about the channels' rapid rise fueled by AI-generated content. These India- and Georgia-based channels flooded the platform with believable but fictional movie trailers, such as “GTA: San Andreas (2025) Teaser Trailer” and “Malcolm in the Middle Reboot (2025) First Trailer.” Despite not representing real projects, the videos appeared in user feeds and garnered over a billion views collectively.
The channels were required to add disclaimers labeling their content as parody or concept trailers to rejoin the YouTube Partner Program. However, they soon reverted to omitting these disclosures in many popular videos, including 23 AI trailers for Disney's The Fantastic Four: First Steps, some of which outranked the official trailer in searches.
YouTube spokesperson Jack Malon stated: “After their initial suspension, these channels made the necessary corrections in order to be readmitted into the YouTube Partner Program. However, once monetizing again, they reverted to clear violations of our spam and misleading metadata policies, and as a result, they have been terminated from the platform.”
Accessing either channel now displays an error: “This page isn’t available. Sorry about that. Try searching for something else.” The bans align with YouTube's broader policies amid Google's enthusiasm for generative AI tools, including upcoming features. Yet, external pressures may play a role; Disney recently partnered with OpenAI while demanding Google remove unauthorized uses of its content, specifically citing AI videos on YouTube. Both banned channels heavily featured Disney properties, sometimes blending in real trailer snippets.
While these were the largest offenders, smaller channels producing similar content with proper fan-made disclosures remain active, raising questions about consistent enforcement in the evolving AI landscape.
