Live Violence Videos on Kick Streaming Platform: Exploration of Jean Pormanove's Connected Streaming Service

In the rapidly evolving world of live streaming, a new player has emerged, positioning itself as a competitor to Twitch, the current market leader. This platform is Kick, a live streaming service based in Australia, launched in December 2022.

However, Kick's rise has been marred by a series of controversies. One of the most notorious incidents involved American streamer Ice Poseidon, who was embroiled in a scandal when a sex worker was filmed and held captive in his apartment. Another controversy arose when two American influencers were excluded from Kick after they crashed a car live on stream, trapping a homeless woman.

Kick's controversial reputation was further tarnished when it welcomed American streamer Amouranth, who had been temporarily sanctioned on Twitch for videos deemed too sexual, and male influencer Marvel Fitness, who was convicted for moral harassment in 2021.

The platform's most followed personality, Adin Ross, was infamous for broadcasting pornography live or inviting personalities like white supremacist Nick Fuentes and male influencer Andrew Tate. Ross was eventually excluded from the Amazon platform in 2023.

The French Audiovisual and Digital Communications Authority (Arcom) filed a complaint against Kick's lax moderation in February 2023, which remained without response. The authorities have expressed their concern over the platform's lack of regulation, with Socialist deputy Arthur Delaporte stating his astonishment at the "powerlessness" of public and judicial authorities to regulate this type of online content.

In response to the criticism, Kick promised to fully cooperate with the authorities. They also added a content reporting button after a controversy in September 2023. However, there is no information indicating that Kick has been monitored or legally represented by the French Audiovisuel and Digital Authority (CSA/ARCOM) in France.

Tragically, one of the influencers associated with Kick passed away on Monday, August 18. An investigation has been opened by the Nice prosecutor's office to determine the cause of the influencer's death. Reports suggest that scenes of physical and psychological violence were filmed and broadcast live on the Kick platform, watched by thousands of viewers for months.

Despite the controversies, Kick offers broadcasters more favorable remuneration conditions concerning the optional paid subscriptions purchased by viewers. The Minister in charge of digital, Clara Chappaz, has contacted the Kick company to obtain explanations regarding these incidents and the platform's overall management.

As the investigation into the death of the influencer continues, the future of Kick remains uncertain. The platform's controversies have raised serious questions about the regulation of live streaming platforms and the responsibility they hold for the content they broadcast.