Tag Archives: Kick

Australian Live Streaming Platform Kick Faces Regulatory Scrutiny After Broadcasting Man’s Death | Technology

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The tragic demise of a man in France, which was live-streamed on the online platform Kick, has prompted a police investigation. Authorities are urging regulators to examine the events of the broadcast and the implications of live streaming on the internet. What is Kick, what transpired, and what are the next steps?

What Happened?

Rafael Graven, 46, from southern France, was known online as Jean Pawmanbe.

This week, he tragically passed away during an extended live stream on the platform. Reports suggest that, prior to his death, he was subjected to physical assaults and humiliation by his associates. A disturbing excerpt from the stream viewed by the Guardian indicates that Graven was struck, humiliated, strangled, and shot with a paintball gun.

His channel has since been removed, and the involved parties are banned pending the investigation by Kick.

One of the collaborators informed local media that Graven had pre-existing cardiovascular issues and claimed, “the scene was just staged and followed a script.”

An autopsy has been ordered, and a police investigation is underway regarding Graven’s death.

What is Kick?

Kick is a live streaming platform akin to Twitch, where users often watch gaming sessions and various live activities.

Founded in Melbourne in 2022 by billionaires Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani, Craven previously established Stake.com, the world’s largest cryptocurrency casino. Kick expanded its user base by attracting Twitch streamers who supported Stake before Twitch’s ban on gambling advertisements.

Kick claims that content creators retain 95% of their streaming revenue.

The platform is known for a more lenient approach to content moderation compared to Twitch, although it does have community guidelines prohibiting “content that depicts or incites heinous violence, including serious harm, suffering, and death.”

Additionally, Kick asserts that it will not allow content featuring severe self-harm.

Earlier this year, the company announced new rules permitting gambling streams only from verified sites to protect minors from such content.

Why Wasn’t the Channel Banned?

A spokesperson for Kick did not provide an explanation as to why the Jean Pawmanbe channel remained active before Graven’s death.

“We are urgently reviewing the situation, engaging with relevant stakeholders, and investigating the matter,” the spokesperson stated. “Kick’s Community Guidelines are established to protect creators, and we are committed to maintaining these standards across the platform.”

What Did Kick Say About the Death?

The company expressed its support for the ongoing investigation and shared its grief over Graven’s passing.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jean Pawmanbe and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and community.”

Will Kick Face Any Repercussions?

In France, Clara Chappaz, Deputy Minister of AI and Digital Technology, characterized the incident as “absolutely horrifying,” announcing an ongoing judicial investigation. The matter has been escalated to the French portal for reporting internet content concerns, as well as the digital regulator ARCOM.

Being an Australian company, Kick could also face local scrutiny.

A spokesperson for the Esafety Commissioner referred to the case as “tragic,” emphasizing that it highlights the potentially devastating real-world consequences of extreme content creation.

The spokesperson remarked, “Platforms like Kick must do more to enforce their terms and conditions to minimize harmful content and behavior during streams, ensuring protection for all users.”

Given Kick’s chat features, there may be implications for the Australian government’s planned social media age restrictions for users under 16, starting in December.

Furthermore, new industry codes and standards now require Kick and similar platforms to have systems to shield Australians from inappropriate content, including depictions of crime and violence without justification.

“This encompasses mandates to uphold terms and conditions that prohibit such material and to address user reports swiftly and appropriately,” the spokesperson added. “ESAFETY may seek penalties of up to $49.5 million for compliance violations if warranted.”

Additional codes are under consideration to specifically target children’s exposure to violent content.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Two intricately synchronized sessions kick off in Beijing under the Royles of the World Order, China

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aThere is a subtle shift in the atmosphere of the capital as numerous delegates from all over China converge in Beijing this week for the annual parliamentary session. While the common people of China may not focus much on their presence at the Great Hall of the People, a modernist structure from the 1950s located near the western edge of Tiananmen Square, the impact of this week’s Conclave can be felt throughout the city.

Security measures have been heightened. Special uniformed personnel have been deployed to secure the bridges in Beijing. Caution is advised against attempting any stunts like Penn Life’s protest on the Sitton Bridge before the 20th Party Congress in 2022.

Virtual Private Networks, used to bypass Internet censorship, are experiencing slower speeds as authorities tighten control over communication with the outside world. The smooth running of the parallel sessions of the “Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference” and the National People’s Congress, often referred to collectively as the two sessions, is crucial for the Communist Party and represents the most significant annual event on the Chinese political calendar.

From the perspective of Beijing, the outside world seems tumultuous. The ongoing exchange of verbal sparring between the US and Ukrainian presidents on TV, as well as the fragile US-backed ceasefire in Gaza, highlight global instability. Meanwhile, China remains relatively shielded from the news, with minimal coverage aside from a few headlines on tariffs.

Despite the recent imposition of tariffs by China on the US, the trade war does not seem to be a major concern for most Chinese citizens. Many, like 18-year-old Wang Zhichen working in Beijing’s Chaoyang district, feel unaffected by the trade tensions. Wang expresses a positive outlook on US-China relations and focuses on his work despite the economic slowdown in the area.

The economic challenges facing China, including falling real estate prices, job scarcity for millennials and Gen-Z workers, and a general sense of economic uncertainty, have led to a term known as “lying flat” or choosing passivity in society. Beijing is aiming to combat this economic nihilism through fiscal stimulus and measures to stabilize economic growth.

As China’s leaders focus on transitioning the economy towards innovation and investment in the tech sector, the recent success of Deepseek, an AI company, has garnered attention. Deepseek’s advancements in AI technology have drawn investors away from US tech stocks and signaled China’s potential to lead in the AI sector.

While Deepseek continues to make waves in the tech industry, Chinese officials are embracing the company’s success and integrating its technology into various platforms. The optimism surrounding China’s technological advancements and economic policies at this week’s two sessions reflects a hopeful future envisioned by Chinese policymakers and leaders.

Additional research by Jason Tzu Kuan Lu

Source: www.theguardian.com

Start Using Salt Now to Kick Your Addiction

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In 1960, most of the world’s population was deficient in the micronutrient iodine, with serious implications for public health. By 2020, the number of iodine-deficient countries had decreased to 21 (down from 113 in 1990), and 90% of people were receiving sufficient amounts.

The solution? Adding iodine to table salt. Adding iodine to the salt supply is strongly supported by the salt industry and governments, and is arguably one of the most effective public health interventions in history.

In 2024, the world faces a similar public health crisis. High blood pressure is a leading cause of illness and death. A key contributor is excessive sodium intake, which raises blood pressure. But as we report in An Easy Way to Satisfy Your Salt Cravings Without Compromising Your Health, new research suggests that an equally simple solution may be at hand: potassium-fortified salt.

This could be a game changer, since efforts to reduce salt intake have failed for a variety of reasons, not least because people prefer salty foods. Governments and industry must also bear some of the blame: processed food manufacturers have been reluctant to set salt reduction targets, while the salt industry has tried to cast doubt on the efficacy and safety of salt reduction, in part by promoting the idea that too little is as harmful as too much.

Either way, new scientific findings offer a new solution: Switching to potassium-fortified salt is a win-win: reduce sodium and increase potassium intake. New research shows this has a greater impact on blood pressure than reducing sodium intake alone. Only 14% of people get enough potassium. Nearly everyone gets too much sodium.

“If industry won’t act on these findings voluntarily, governments should be forced to do so. Hypertension is an enormous cost to the health care system. Adding potassium to salt, as we have done with iodine, is a surprisingly simple way to save lives and money.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com