Kick faces $49 million fine after tragic on-air death of French streamer Jean Pormanove

Kick $49 million fine: Live-streaming platform Kick is facing a potential fine of up to $49 million after the death of French streamer Jean Pormanove, who died during a livestream following what officials have called “ten days and nights of torture” broadcast, as per a report.

French Streamer Jean Pormanove Dies Live on Kick Amid Alleged Abuse

On August 18, Raphaël Graven, known online as Jean Pormanove, died in his sleep while streaming on Kick, as per a Dexerto report. In the months and days leading up to the 46-year-old's death, he had reportedly been subjected to extreme abuse by two fellow streamers, known as Naruto and Safine, according to the report. Reports say he endured sleep deprivation, physical violence, and was forced to ingest toxic substances, all live on camera, as per the Dexerto report.

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Politicians in France Condemn Kick’s Inaction

The incident triggered national outrage in France and France’s Minister for Digital Affairs and AI, Clara Chappaz, described it as a “national disgrace,” saying Pormanove had been “humiliated and mistreated for months live on Kick,” as quoted in the report. She also criticized the platform’s failure to intervene and also vowed to “promptly end this digital Wild West,” as quoted in the Dexerto report.

Australia Launches Investigation Into Kick Platform

While France has limited jurisdiction over Kick, which is based in Australia, the case has now caught the attention of Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, who confirmed an active investigation is underway and also warned of steep fines, as per the report.

A spokesperson for the eSafety Commissioner said, “This is a tragic case where someone has lost their life, and underscores how the creation of more extreme content, in this case involving actual violence, can have devastating, real-world consequences,” as quoted by Dexerto.

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Kick Could Face $49 Million Fine Over Safety Failures

Australian law requires platforms to protect users from harmful content or criminal material and to enforce their own terms of service, as reported by Dexerto.

A spokesperson told The Guardian that, “eSafety will use the full range of our enforcement powers as appropriate where there is non-compliance, which can include seeking penalties of up to AUD $49.5m,” adding, “Platforms like Kick need to be doing more to enforce their own terms of use and minimise harmful content and conduct in streams to protect all users of the service,” as quoted in the Dexerto report.

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Streamers Involved in Abuse Banned by Kick

Kick has since banned the two streamers involved and cut ties with its French social media agency after backlash over promotional posts that used Pormanove’s image to market merchandise, according to the report.

Autopsy Finds No External Injuries

Even French police continue to investigate, but an autopsy found no signs of internal or external trauma, suggesting the cause of death may have been medical or toxicological, as reported by Dexerto.

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New Child Safety Laws Could Further Restrict Kick

Meanwhile, the firm may also face future restrictions under Australia’s new child-safety laws, which will come into effect in December, and is expected to block users under 16 years from accessing the platform, as reported by Dexerto.

FAQs

Who was Jean Pormanove?
Jean Pormanove was the online name of Raphaël Graven, a 46-year-old French streamer who passed away while live-streaming on Kick.

Why is Kick facing a fine?
Kick may be fined for failing to enforce its own content rules and not protecting users from harm, as required under Australian online safety laws.