This is a first in the world of tech. A Spanish YouTuber decided to sue Google, owner of the video platform, after seeing his channel deprived of its advertising revenue, which amounts to “unfair dismissal”, believes the UGT union which supports him in his Steps. “I have no choice but to put YouTube in the dock,” wrote this YouTuber, called Jota (@Jota_POV), on social networks.
According to the UGT, which is demanding compensation from the YouTuber, the platform had decided to “unilaterally” “demonetize” the YouTube channel “Ultimo Bastion” (last bastion) of Jota Pov, followed by around 18,000 people, depriving him of advertising revenue.
Prove the existence of “an employment relationship”
“The complaint, prepared by the legal services of the UGT, was filed against Google Spain, owner of YouTube in the country”, for “unfair dismissal”, indicated, in a press release, the union, which specifies that a conciliation agreement failed and the trial will be held on June 26, 2024.
The union hopes to prove, thanks to this procedure, the existence of “an employment relationship between a content creator and Google (YouTube)”, due to the YouTuber’s “dependence” on the platform to obtain remuneration in exchange for its content.
A debate on “false self-employment”
Google Spain considered that the content creators “are not employees of YouTube, contrary to what is claimed” by the union. The Internet giant also assured that it was “deeply involved in the success of its creators, which leads to sharing the majority of revenues with them”.
The most popular YouTubers, who have made their videos their profession, live mainly from advertising revenue. Through this complaint, the UGT indicates that it wants to open a “debate” on “the false independent work and the precariousness that these technology giants are trying to impose by attempting to circumvent labor law”.
Spain was a pioneer in Europe by adopting the so-called “riders” law, which came into force in August 2021, which introduced into the Spanish labor code a “presumption of employment” for all couriers using delivery applications like Uber Eats or Glovo. Delivery workers have thus become employees who can benefit from the protections resulting from this status, thanks to an agreement concluded between the government, the main Spanish unions and employers.