Twitch has joined Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, SnapChat, and other social media sites in banning Donald Trump from their service. The suspension is indefinite and was taken following the shocking scenes at the US Capitol building in Washington DC.
The following statement was given to Kotaku:
In light of yesterday’s shocking attack on the Capitol, we have disabled President Trump’s Twitch channel. Given the current extraordinary circumstances and the President’s incendiary rhetoric, we believe this is a necessary step to protect our community and prevent Twitch from being used to incite further violence. We are focused on minimizing harm leading up to the transition of government and will reassess his account after he leaves office.
This is the second time he has been remove from Twitch, in June last year his account was suspended due to “hateful conduct”. At the time, a Twitch spokesperson told GamesIndustry.biz. “Hateful conduct is not allowed on Twitch. In line with our policies, President Trump’s channel has been issued a temporary suspension from Twitch for comments made on stream, and the offending content has been removed.”
Update: We have removed some immature name-calling.
The spokesperson gave details of two examples of content which got Trump slapped with a suspension. They first was from a rally back in 2016, the video for which was posted on Twitch a later date.
When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.
The second is from a rally in June 2020 in Oklahoma, but if you can actually work out out what the man baby is trying to say you’re cleverer than me.
Hey, it’s 1:00 o’clock in the morning and a very tough — I’ve used the word on occasion, hombre — a very tough hombre is breaking into the window of a young woman whose husband is away as a travelling salesman or whatever he may do. And you call 911 and they say, ‘I’m sorry, this number’s no longer working.’ By the way, you have many cases like that, many, many, many. Whether it’s a young woman, an old woman, a young man or an old man and you’re sleeping.”
Source: Kotaku
Andrewww
It’s about time this moron is stopped from spreading lies and inciting violence and racism.
It’s not surprising how stupid he is, that was obvious for many years, shame on all those who voted for such a complete idiot.
Starman
Well overdue. The damage he’s done will take years to repair. He should’ve been treated like any other user and banned accordingly.
Matthijs
Yet here you are calling him a moron and an idiot. Using your free speech. Grounds for a ban on many platforms. Insulting a head of state…
I think we all, left and right should be worried about the control of freedom of speech social media companies have. Soulemani gets to post the most horrible things about Europe, the us and Israel but that’s okay.
We forgot over the past 70 years that if you quell those that don’t share your opinion it leads to civil unrest, intolerance and at some point war. It’s okay to disagree, doesn’t mean we should rejoice when someone gets banned.
Matthijs
And this reply was meant to go under Andrews post. Damn you iPhone!!!
Andrewww
Thanks for your reply, and I perfectly see your point, free speech is very important, it’s the basis of a functional democracy, and no one should be excluded without good reason.
Believe me, I don’t easily use drastic words as I did above, I’d never insult anyone lightly, e.g. people I don’t know online.
With Trump, however, I claim to have been exposed to sufficient direct recordings of his actions and statements, to be able to judge the use of these words is not just an insult but an objective assessment of the character of this person. I don’t want to and don’t need to go into details here, but if someone e.g. claims grabbing women between their legs without permission is ok, mocks people with disabilities, makes openly racist statements, acts accordingly, e.g. motivating a mob to break into a democratically elected parliament, etc., then I claim these drastic words are no insults any longer.
The right to free speech does not mean it’s ok to state anything, there are still limits, and it’s important to defend these limits, just like it’s right and required to be intolerant towards intolerance, that’s not contradictory in itself.
But the general tearing down the differences between facts and lies that, among many others, Trump constantly did over the past years, confuses too many nowadays, and that is a very bad thing.
MrYd
I think this all demonstrates the differences between the “right” and “left” when it comes to free speech.
Those on the left tend to be in favour of free speech, but don’t be a dick about it. Don’t insult anyone who doesn’t clearly deserve it. Don’t incite violence. And if it doesn’t fall under those categories, accept that everyone else has the same rights to respond to whatever bollocks you start spouting.
The right tend to be in favour of a complete free for all, no matter what the consequences. While at the same time getting very upset if anyone uses their free speech to object. They also get very confused if you then use their hypocrisy against them.
Best comment I’ve seen about Trump now being banned (sorry, “permanently suspended”) from Twitter was to think of Twitter as a Christian bakery, and Trump as a gay wedding cake.
Also, is “if you quell those that don’t share your opinion it leads to civil unrest, intolerance and at some point war” not a bit worrying? Vague, implied threats of violence coming from someone if you don’t just quietly accept everyone’s right to be as offensive as they want? Again, that sort of thing usually comes from those on the right who get very upset if they have to hear any views they disagree with.
beeje13
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts – this is one reason what Trump is being censored/banned for. The other is for inciting violence
If his tweets of him sharing a for, shall we say, right-leaning opinion/view was censored, then I would start to worry about free speech in the USA
TSBonyman
Without being swayed by any left/right narrative, any decent person would only have to listen to him speak to know the sort he is – a divisive, self-centred liar. He was never a suitable candidate for the role of POTUS and it’s fitting that his final days in office should be so shameful.
Dominic L
Well overdue.
While I agree that our society’s reliance on social media is in itself dangerous, and the control that those platforms can illicit is deeply worrying, Donald Trump has proven himself – on multiple occasions – to be wantonly false, manipulative, and self-serving. We’ve now seen what winding up and setting loose those elements of American society does, and he should be made to answer for those actions.
dalejrfanfreak
Orange faced shit gibbon? I thought you guys were better than the trash known as kotaku. I’ll be boycotting your site and anyone that advertises on it.
Matthijs
Yeah, I sent TSA an e-mail about that one too. I think it’s uncalled for. You may agree or disagree with him but namecalling is low on either side. Many were offended at the frequent name calling the man himself did on Twitter. Why do this yourselves then. I dare you, as a UK based site, namecall Her Majesty the Queen. It’s easy when its far from where you live. The standard however should be the same.
Anyone who has been convicted of a crime can be called out for it, convicted as he or she is. Calling names for disliking someone is intolerance. Don’t go there. We don’t accept name calling towards religous groups, people with different sexual orientation, etc. To be honest TSA, we’re here to read about games, that’s what you’re good at. I don’t give a penny for your political opinion/affiliation.
Stefan L
Yes, I’ve edited out the name-calling now. It wasn’t appropriate and lowers the bar to his/their level.
That said we’ll continue to report on and discuss politics as and when we feel it’s suitable, and as with all of our writing, personal opinions will be a part of that.
MrYd
But you’ve still quoted some of the things the orange faced shit gibbon said? Which are much more offensive.
Why not refer to him as “Trump, who some people call an orange faced shit gibbon”? Technically then you’re not insulting him and nobody can complain.
And I don’t really see a problem with it anyway. Sometimes you’ve got to lower yourself to their level. Much like you’d talk to a small child or a dog.
Nate
To provide a counter point of view, referring to Trump as an orange faced shit gibbon is why I love you guys!
Stefan L
Tuff does has a particular way with words!
MrYd
As much as we all love his way with words (except possibly a couple of people), “shit gibbon” has been around a long time. The earliest example anyone has proven is 30 years ago. There are whole articles written about it. With handy alternatives you can also use, such as jizztrumpet and wankpuffin.
KippDynamite
Bye!