French prosecutors have initiated an investigation into the Australian video platform Kick following the death of content creator Raphaël Graven, known as Jean Pormanove, during a live stream. Graven was discovered dead at a residence near Nice last week. He was recognized for producing videos where he engaged in acts of violence and humiliation.
The Paris prosecutor’s office is examining whether Kick knowingly aired “videos of deliberate attacks on personal integrity.” A spokesperson for Kick confirmed awareness of the investigation and stated that the platform is seeking legal counsel while expressing a commitment to cooperate with authorities.
Additionally, the investigation will assess whether Kick complied with the European Union’s Digital Services Act, particularly regarding the obligation to notify authorities if an individual’s life or safety is at risk. France’s Minister for Digital Affairs, Clara Chappaz, announced plans to sue Kick for “negligence” due to its alleged failure to block “dangerous content.”
Graven was found deceased on August 18, and local reports indicated that he experienced bouts of violence and sleep deprivation during his streams before dying in his sleep while broadcasting. A postmortem examination revealed that his death was not due to trauma or third-party actions.
Police have confiscated videos related to his streams and are interviewing individuals who were present at the time of his death. Authorities noted that Graven had previously communicated with detectives, firmly denying being a victim of violence and stating that the actions viewed in his broadcasts were staged for entertainment purposes.
Kick operates similarly to Twitch, allowing users to broadcast content and interact with audiences in real time. The platform expressed condolences to Graven’s family, noting its community guidelines are intended to protect creators.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czxpepn5qlxo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss