France opens investigation into Kick over streamer’s online death

The Paris prosecutor said on Tuesday that it has opened a preliminary investigation into the Australian-owned livestreaming platform Kick following the online death of a French streamer last week.

It will look into whether Kick knowingly provided illegal services, in particular by broadcasting videos of deliberate attacks on personal integrity, and whether Kick complied with European regulation on digital services (DSA), in particular the obligation to notify the authorities of risks of attacks on the life or safety of individuals.

Cybernews previously reported that Graven, known by the moniker Jeanpormanove, took part in so-called humiliation streams – live sessions during which people humiliate and abuse others, often with diminished mental capacities, for fun and to raise donations via the platform.

The late streamer was allegedly abused during a 298-hour-long livestream. He was beaten and had drywall and paint thrown at him, along with other forms of humiliation.

Graven was found dead in his sleep while live on Kick.