1. Controller and contact
The client is operated for non-commercial academic research by Qiuhao Zhao, an academic researcher affiliated with Zhejiang University. Privacy and deletion enquiries: zhaoqiuhao@zju.edu.cn.
2. YouTube API Services
The client uses YouTube API Services. Their use is also governed by the YouTube Terms of Service and Google Privacy Policy. The client has no Google sign-in and does not use OAuth 2.0.
3. Data accessed
- Public video identifiers, title, channel identifier/title, publication time, description, duration, public status and thumbnail metadata.
- Time-stamped public video statistics when returned by the API.
- A bounded sample of public top-level comment identifiers, text, publication/update time, like count and reply count.
- Query route, result count, failure type, observation time and refresh-or-delete deadline.
The client does not access passwords, watch history, private account data, subscriptions or user-authorised data.
4. Data minimisation
The controlled research table excludes commenter display names, commenter channel IDs, profile URLs and avatars. Text processing masks URL, email, phone-number and @mention patterns. The client does not infer demographics or location and does not match identities across platforms.
5. Research purpose
API Data is used only to identify and verify public music-work pages, document upload context and conduct bounded academic validation of urban place representation. The project does not target advertising, rank creators, automate engagement or seek insights into YouTube's revenue or business.
6. Storage and security
Research files are access-restricted. API credentials remain outside source code in the operator's user environment and are not published. Only the authorised researcher can access controlled API Data. The public policy site contains no operator-installed analytics or advertising scripts; GitHub may process standard hosting logs under the GitHub General Privacy Statement.
7. Retention
Non-authorised YouTube API Data is stored temporarily for no longer than 30 calendar days and is then refreshed or deleted. If YouTube approves additional policies for derived metrics or statistical data storage, only the specifically approved data may be retained for the approved period.
8. Sharing and publication
The project does not sell, rent or redistribute YouTube API Data. Public datasets exclude raw comment text, commenter identity fields, YouTube audiovisual content and API credentials. Academic outputs contain methods, aggregate findings and carefully reviewed non-identifying examples only when permitted.
9. Deletion requests
A person may request deletion of a stored record by emailing zhaoqiuhao@zju.edu.cn with the relevant public video URL and, if available, comment URL or comment ID. Verified requests are completed as soon as possible and within seven calendar days. Deletion here does not delete content on YouTube.
10. Changes
Material changes to research purpose, data types or API functionality require an updated policy and, where required, a new YouTube API compliance review.