Death During Live Stream
French authorities are investigating the death of a 46-year-old man, identified as Raphael Graven, known online as Jean Pormanove, who died in the village of Contes near Nice during a live broadcast on the Kick platform. Prosecutors have ordered an autopsy and opened a judicial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death. Graven had appeared regularly in livestreams where he endured acts of humiliation and violence from co-streamers in front of online audiences.
Government and Platform Response
France’s junior minister for AI and digital technology, Clara Chappaz, called the incident “absolutely horrific” and stressed that platforms have a legal responsibility to prevent the spread of illegal content. She reported the matter to Arcom, the national media regulator, and to Pharos, the country’s online portal for reporting illicit material. Kick Français stated it would fully cooperate with the authorities, confirmed that all co-streamers involved in the broadcast had been banned, and announced a review of its French content policies.
Nature of the Content
Videos involving Graven showed him being insulted, struck, strangled, doused with oil and paint, and shot with a paintball gun. Some reports suggest the scenes may have been staged, with a lawyer for one of the co-streamers claiming the victim had health issues and that the violent acts followed a script. However, French media outlets have raised questions about whether Graven voluntarily participated or was coerced. The investigation is expected to examine whether the abuse was real, staged, or both.
Wider Concerns About Online Exploitation
The case has sparked debate about online exploitation, digital responsibility, and the moral limits of live streaming. Chappaz emphasized that the obligations of platforms to moderate illegal content are non-negotiable. The incident adds to growing scrutiny of Kick, a live-streaming service registered in Australia that shares revenue with creators but has faced criticism over weak content moderation practices.