YouTube hosts thousands of pirated films and TV shows at any given moment

YouTube hosts unauthorized premium content despite copyright protection efforts. An Adalytics study found over 9,000 alleged violations, including full-length films and Netflix exclusives, with 250 million+ views. YouTube's Content ID system flagged 2.2 billion potentially infringing videos last year, with 90% remaining online and monetized. The platform dismissed the study as misleading, noting rights holders often choose to monetize flagged content. These findings raise questions about advertising transparency and content moderation.