Prosecutor Investigates Digital Minister’s Actions
- The Nice prosecutor's office has launched an inquiry into the death of Raphaël Graven, 46, known online as Jean Pormanove or JP, following an incident during a live...
- Graven was a participant in controversial videos that depicted violence and humiliation, frequently enough involving two individuals known as Narutovie and Safine.
- This tragedy unfolds against a backdrop of existing legal scrutiny. The Nice judicial police were already investigating Graven and his associates since December 2024, focusing on "voluntary violence...
The Dark Side of Live Streaming: Death, Violence, and Accountability on Kick
Table of Contents
A Life Cut Short During a Broadcast
The Nice prosecutor’s office has launched an inquiry into the death of Raphaël Graven, 46, known online as Jean Pormanove or JP, following an incident during a live stream on the platform Kick. Nice-Matin first reported the death on Monday, August 19th, in the village of Tales, north of Nice. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death.
Graven was a participant in controversial videos that depicted violence and humiliation, frequently enough involving two individuals known as Narutovie and Safine. These videos, gaining traction particularly on the Australian-based streaming platform Kick, have prompted a wider discussion about the responsibilities of online platforms in moderating harmful content.
A History of Violence and a Prior Investigation
This tragedy unfolds against a backdrop of existing legal scrutiny. The Nice judicial police were already investigating Graven and his associates since December 2024, focusing on “voluntary violence in vulnerable people meeting” and the “dissemination of registration of images relating to the commission of offenses of voluntary damage to the integrity of the person,” according to Mediapart. The investigation was spurred by a Mediapart article exposing the disturbing content and its popularity among viewers.
Reports suggest a video circulating online, purportedly broadcast live on Kick, shows the moments before or during the finding of Graven’s death.Internet users describe the scene as depicting graven lying motionless under a duvet, with two other men present and a small plastic water bottle near him.
Official Response and Platform Accountability
The incident has drawn swift condemnation from French officials. Clara Chappaz, the Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Affairs, denounced the situation as “an absolute horror” on X (formerly Twitter). She stated she had alerted the Arcom (the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital dialog) and initiated a report to Pharos, France’s online violence combat service. Chappaz emphasized the legal duty of online platforms to address illicit content, stating, “The responsibility for online platforms on the dissemination of illicit content is not an option: this is the law.”
Kick, when contacted by the Agence France-Presse (AFP), cited its privacy policy as preventing it from providing data. However, its terms of use state that while acknowledging violence can be contextual, it prohibits content “representing or encouraging odious violence.”
Kick: A Rising Platform with Relaxed Rules
Kick, launched in late 2023, has rapidly gained popularity as a competitor to Twitch, attracting streamers with its more lenient moderation policies and revenue-sharing model. As Le Monde reported in July 2023, the platform has also faced scrutiny regarding its connections to online casinos.
The platform’s relaxed approach to content moderation, while appealing to some creators, has raised concerns about the potential for harmful and illegal content to proliferate. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of prioritizing freedom of expression over user safety.