node.js - Youtube.analytics.query api giving forbidden error

Question

I want to fetch the analytics of any channel of youtube that basically are not owned by me. I am using this API. If this is not the right API please suggest me how to achieve this. Also, I am using node. https://youtubeanalytics.googleapis.com/v2/reports?dimensions=day&endDate=2019-01-01&ids=channel%3D%3DUCZSNzBgFub_WWil6TOTYwAg&metrics=likes&startDate=2018-01-01

Response:

 {
 "error": {
  "code": 403,
  "message": "Forbidden",
  "errors": [
   {
    "message": "Forbidden",
    "domain": "global",
    "reason": "forbidden"
   }
  ]
 }
}

Answer 1

You need to understand the difference between private and public data. Public data is data that can be accessed by anyone. Public videos on YouTube for example

Private data is data that is owned by a user. A good example of that would be the analytics for a channel on Youtube. You cant access this kind of information without the permission of the user who owns it.

{
 "error": {
  "code": 403,
  "message": "Forbidden",
  "errors": [
   {
    "message": "Forbidden",
    "domain": "global",
    "reason": "forbidden"
   }
  ]
 }
}

Means that the currently authenticated user doesn't have permission to do what you are trying to do. You need to login with a user who has access to this data. I suggest you ask the owner of the channel to give you access.