**Title:** Australia’s eSafety Watchdog Criticizes Kick Over Violent Stream Incident
**Meta Description:** Australia’s eSafety Commissioner calls out Kick for failing to enforce guidelines after a live-stream incident led to a viewer’s death.
**URL Slug:** australia-esafety-kick-violent-stream-incident
**Headline:** Australia’s eSafety Watchdog Takes Action Against Kick Following Tragic Live-Stream Incident
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has raised serious concerns regarding the local live-streaming platform Kick, accusing it of not adhering to its own guidelines on harmful content. This scrutiny follows a tragic incident where a live-stream resulted in the death of a man, prompting discussions about potential enforcement actions that could lead to fines of up to $49.5 million.
Kick, co-founded by cryptocurrency casino mogul Edward Craven, has rapidly become the second-largest live-streaming service globally. The platform has gained notoriety for its content, which often includes gambling, violence, and sexually suggestive themes, especially as its main competitor, Twitch, has tightened its regulations on such material.
The incident in question involved 46-year-old Raphael Graven, who died during a live-stream after enduring a series of extreme and dangerous stunts over the course of a week. Graven, known on the platform as Jean Pormanove, was performing humiliating tasks that included being struck, choked, and shot with a paintball gun. His death has raised alarms about the potential consequences of increasingly extreme content aimed at engaging viewers.
A spokesperson for the eSafety Commissioner stated, “This is a tragic case where someone has lost their life, and it underscores how the creation of more extreme content, particularly involving actual violence, can have devastating real-world consequences.” The spokesperson emphasized that content creators are often driven to produce more shocking material to boost engagement, influenced by the platform’s algorithms and design features.
Online platforms like Kick are mandated to implement measures to protect users from illegal and harmful content, including depictions of violence without justification. Kick’s own guidelines explicitly prohibit content that showcases abhorrent violence, including significant harm or death. The eSafety Commissioner’s office has urged Kick to enhance its enforcement of these guidelines to better protect its users.
In light of the recent events, the eSafety Commissioner indicated that Kick may face restrictions for users under 16 when new laws aimed at protecting children from inappropriate content come into effect in December.
Graven, who was among the top streamers on Kick, had gained popularity for his extreme challenges, often orchestrated by other creators. His tragic death has sparked a broader conversation about the responsibilities of live-streaming platforms in regulating content and ensuring user safety.
As the situation develops, the eSafety Commissioner has made it clear that they will utilize their full range of enforcement powers in cases of non-compliance, highlighting the urgent need for platforms like Kick to take their content guidelines seriously.
**FAQ:**
**What actions is Australia’s eSafety Commissioner taking against Kick?**
The eSafety Commissioner is considering enforcement actions against Kick for failing to uphold its content guidelines after a live-stream incident resulted in a viewer’s death.
