In June of 2022, Google suddenly changed the way its Chromecast users watch YouTube on their televisions. When using the YouTube casting function, Chromecast would previously allow the user to sign into their YouTube account, removing the necessity to stream each individual video directly from their portable device. Users were able to control their account using nothing more than their television remote, a tactile tool that provided app-like navigation of the YouTube settings, play controls, and video selection.

When Google removed this capability from 2nd and 3rd generation Chromecast devices (codenamed “CHORIZO” and “CAPRICA” respectively), the user would be greeted by a prompt urging them to “sign in for the best experience.” However, when attempting to sign in, the user would then see a message stating that they cannot sign in, but can still cast videos directly from their device, or browse as a guest. This also removes the ability to turn off AutoPlay, resulting in the playback of a video chosen by YouTube, rather than the user, immediately following the conclusion of a selected video.

By browsing as a guest, a YouTube user’s Subscribed Channels are not visible. YouTube Premium subscribers, since they are not logged in, will see paid advertisements between and, occasionally interrupting, videos being viewed in Guest Mode. Only by directly streaming individual videos from their portable device are users able to view their chosen videos uninterrupted.

The purpose of this petition is to 1) restore the previously built-in functionality of Chromecast devices which operated as YouTube viewing hardware, containing a virtual YouTube software application, now and as long as the Chromecast devices are capable of operating, or 2a) remove all existing Chromecast devices not capable of operating with “reasonable expectation” to the lifespan of the device, AND 2a) provide replacements, free of charge, to YouTube Premium customers who are paying additional subscription costs in lieu of paid advertising. In addition, we insist that Google make a reasonable effort to 3) apologize to the public for the confusion caused by this perceivably unannounced change, AND 4) make reasonable effort to communicate to the public any announcement of the discontinuation of the services provided through the Chromecast hardware as stated above, which reflect the expected performance of the devices.