The disputed videos consisted of journalistic and human rights materials, including interviews, quotations of public statements, and analytical commentary on matters of significant public interest. The content was non‑commercial and used exclusively to inform the public about the human rights situation in the countries of Central Asia, including for the purpose of documenting serious violations.
The copyright notices were submitted by private individuals and small accounts that are neither recognized rights holders nor professional media entities. Two individuals listed as complainants have already confirmed that they did not submit any complaints against our organization and have no claims against us.
Under the current DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) procedure, YouTube applies an automated mechanism for removing content and channels after receiving three complaints, without prior assessment of context, the public‑interest nature of the materials, or the potential abuse of this mechanism. Although this practice may formally comply with the procedure, it creates a high risk of misuse of copyright tools against content of a human rights, journalistic, and public‑interest character.
As a result of the removal of the AHRCA.ORG channel, our organization has temporarily lost one of its key tools for disseminating information of public importance. The channel hosted unique archival materials, including interviews with human rights defenders and experts (including those who have since passed away), as well as documented testimonies concerning torture and other grave human rights violations in Central Asian countries. Restricting access to such materials undermines the public’s right to information and the preservation of human rights memory.
The Association for Human Rights in Central Asia is acting strictly within the legal framework: official DMCA counter‑notifications have been filed, and appeals have been submitted to relevant international organizations working on the protection of freedom of expression and independent journalism.
Our analysis indicates that the removal of the AHRCA.ORG channel occurred during a period of heightened public attention surrounding the program “Is Mirziyoyev’s Daughter Seeking Power? How Uzbekistan Became the Plaything of an Authoritarian ‘Princess’?”, produced by the Kazakhstan‑based digital media project AIRAN on YouTube and released on 30 December 2025. We record this chronology as a circumstance requiring additional attention and independent assessment, without drawing premature conclusions regarding a direct causal link.
To prevent further misuse of copyright enforcement mechanisms on the YouTube platform, the Association for Human Rights in Central Asia has requested international experts to conduct a comprehensive and independent review of the abuse of the DMCA procedure leading to the removal of YouTube accounts on false grounds.
We consider what has occurred to be a form of transnational digital pressure carried out through the abuse of private legal mechanisms and resulting in a disproportionate restriction of freedom of expression and access to information of public interest, contrary to international standards on freedom of expression.
The Association for Human Rights in Central Asia will continue to inform the public and international partners about further developments.
