Twitch Co-Founder Criticizes Twitch over Alleged Double Standards After HasanAbi's Reinstatement
Streamer Drama Unfolds: HasanAbi vs. Twitch
In a surprising turn of events, popular Twitch streamer HasanAbi, known for his political commentary, found himself embroiled in a battle with the Amazon-owned platform. On Tuesday, he was controversially unbanned, sparking debates about double standards.
Kick co-Founder Bijan Tehrani, weighing in on the situation, pointed out the contrast between HasanAbi's 24-hour ban for suggesting viewers kill a US senator and Adin Ross's two-year ban for unmoderated chat.
HasanAbi's ban seemed to stem from comments made during a stream about US Senator Rick Scott, where he allegedly joked, "If you cared about Medicare fraud or Medicaid fraud, you would kill Rick Scott!" This comment, undoubtedly, violated Twitch's community guidelines against promoting or suggesting violence.
However, Twitch reversed the decision without a public explanation, causing outrage among some viewers who felt it infringed on HasanAbi's right to free speech. Others argued that his statement could inspire violence.
Another notable case is Adin Ross. In contrast to HasanAbi's brief ban, Ross faced a two-year exile due to issues with his unmoderated chat. Twitch has strict policies against harassment and toxic behavior, and streamers are accountable for maintaining a safe and respectful environment. If a streamer fails to regulate their chat effectively, they face consequences, including bans.
The disparity in the manner these incidents were handled has left many questioning Twitch's decision-making process. The platform, with its vast user base and influential personalities like xQc, has a responsibility to uphold consistent policies and foster a respectful environment for all users.
[1] Twitch Community Guidelines: https://help.twitch.tv/s/article/community-guidelines#toxicity
- While the controversial 24-hour ban of HasanAbi, a social-media influencer known for his political commentary, was reversed by Twitch, it still sparks debates on the platform's double standards, given that Adin Ross, another popular streamer, was banned for two years due to unmoderated chat.
- Despite HasanAbi's controversial comment suggesting the killing of a US senator, labeled as a violation of Twitch's rules against promoting or suggesting violence, the platform seemed to show leniency, triggering discussions about free speech on entertainment platforms.
- Sports analysts and general-news commentators observing the unfolding streamer drama may argue that Twitch's inconsistent application of policies against harassment and toxic behavior across high-profile users like HasanAbi and Adin Ross, raises questions about the platform's commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all users.
