French prosecutors have opened an investigation into the Australian video platform Kick over the death of a content creator during a live stream. Raphaël Graven - also known as Jean Pormanove - was found dead in a residence near the city of Nice last week. He was known for videos in which he endured apparent violence and humiliation.
The Paris prosecutor said the investigation would look into whether Kick knowingly broadcast videos of deliberate attacks on personal integrity. A spokesperson from Kick said the firm was aware of the investigation and was taking legal advice, stating, We remain fully committed to cooperating with the relevant authorities with any ongoing investigation.
The prosecutor's investigation will also seek to determine whether Kick complied with the European Union's Digital Services Act, regarding the obligation on platforms to notify authorities if an individual's life or safety is in question. In a separate announcement, France's minister for digital affairs, Clara Chappaz, said the government would sue the platform for negligence over its failure to block dangerous content.
Mr Graven was found dead on 18 August. Local media reported the 46-year-old had been subject to bouts of violence and sleep deprivation during streams, and died in his sleep during a live broadcast. On social media, Chappaz described his death as an absolute horror, indicating that he had faced humiliation and mistreatment on the platform for months.
A postmortem examination later revealed that Mr Graven's death was not a result of trauma or the actions of a third party. Local police have since seized videos and interviewed several individuals who were present at the time of his death. Reports indicate that Mr Graven had previously denied being a victim of violence, claiming the acts were staged to boost engagements and revenue.
Kick, functionally similar to Twitch, allows users to broadcast content and interact live with audiences. In their previous statements, Kick expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Jean Pormanove and extended condolences to his family and friends.
The Paris prosecutor said the investigation would look into whether Kick knowingly broadcast videos of deliberate attacks on personal integrity. A spokesperson from Kick said the firm was aware of the investigation and was taking legal advice, stating, We remain fully committed to cooperating with the relevant authorities with any ongoing investigation.
The prosecutor's investigation will also seek to determine whether Kick complied with the European Union's Digital Services Act, regarding the obligation on platforms to notify authorities if an individual's life or safety is in question. In a separate announcement, France's minister for digital affairs, Clara Chappaz, said the government would sue the platform for negligence over its failure to block dangerous content.
Mr Graven was found dead on 18 August. Local media reported the 46-year-old had been subject to bouts of violence and sleep deprivation during streams, and died in his sleep during a live broadcast. On social media, Chappaz described his death as an absolute horror, indicating that he had faced humiliation and mistreatment on the platform for months.
A postmortem examination later revealed that Mr Graven's death was not a result of trauma or the actions of a third party. Local police have since seized videos and interviewed several individuals who were present at the time of his death. Reports indicate that Mr Graven had previously denied being a victim of violence, claiming the acts were staged to boost engagements and revenue.
Kick, functionally similar to Twitch, allows users to broadcast content and interact live with audiences. In their previous statements, Kick expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Jean Pormanove and extended condolences to his family and friends.
