Twitch cracks down on hate speech, harassment

The Amazon-owned live streaming platform Twitch introduced new policies Wednesday to crack down on hate speech and harassment among users on the predominantly video game-focused website.

The changes are being made using information and feedback collected for several months by users voicing their wishes for changes to make the video game streaming platform a safer and more inviting place, according to an official release from Twitch.

“Today, we’re introducing an updated Hateful Conduct and Harassment Policy,” the company said in a statement, linking users to the updated rules. “This new policy will take effect on January 22, 2021. Content created on or after January 22 will be evaluated under the new guidelines.”

Over the past few years, Twitch has grown to be one of the top online streaming platforms for live gaming content or blogger streams, presenting a wide array of viewing options and genres for various sub-communities to engage in with streamers and influencers.

Policy updates encompass three main sections centered around addressing harassment, hateful conduct, and sexual harassment.

Some of the guidelines offer nuanced examples of harassment, noting interactions such as unwanted repeated compliments to a streamer. 

The statement presents other specific examples of prohibited harassment, such as claiming “that the victim of a well-documented violent tragedy is a crisis actor, or is lying.”

The guidelines are slated to go live next month to give users more time to understand the imminent rules that aim to “better protect the community, not be punitive.”

“We are sharing them before the updated policy goes into effect to ensure you have adequate time to understand what is changing,” the statement added, noting current behavior moderation will still be governed by the platform’s existing guidelines.

Explaining the reason for the additional behavior moderation changes, the statement said, “We know that many people on Twitch … continue to experience a disproportionate amount of harassment and abuse online, including on our service.

The service underscored protecting members of the LGBTQIA+ community, Black, Indigenous, and people of color from harassment, condemning any such negative behavior and propping those who work to make Twitch a more inclusive environment for all of its users.

“We’re incredibly proud of our Creators who show up every day to create great content and build welcoming spaces for their communities, and facing harassment because of race, gender, or any other protected characteristic is unacceptable and has no place on Twitch,” the company said.