France to Take Legal Action Against Kick Following Death of Streamer

kick streamer, Jean Pormanove.

France’s Minister for Digital Affairs has confirmed legal action against streaming platform Kick, following the death of French streamer Raphaël Graven, known online as Jean Pormanove.

Clara Chappaz, Minister Delegate for AI and Digital Affairs, says the State will summon Kick to court under Article 6-3 of the French Law for Confidence in the Digital Economy (LCEN).

The announcement came after high-level talks with France’s top digital and media regulators in Paris on August 26.

French prosecutors have also launched a separate criminal probe into whether Kick was operating illegally, referencing Article 323-3-2 of the French Criminal Code.

Pormanove’s death occurred on August 17/18, 2025, while he was streaming a 12-day marathon session on Kick. The 46-year-old streamer was allegedly subjected to days of abuse by fellow creators before dying in his sleep, sparking outrage both in France and internationally.

“This tragedy must enable us to strengthen our means of acting quickly and strongly,” Chappaz said in an official statement. “Since the first day of my appointment, I have been fighting to restore order in the digital Wild West. Kick is my fight, and I am taking the platform to court.”

While Kick has already banned the accused streamers and announced an internal review, French authorities say these steps are not enough. The legal action aims not only to address the immediate case but also to push for stricter accountability for platforms hosting harmful content.

“The largest platforms have the responsibility to combat systemic risks such as the protection of minors, public health, and the safety of individuals,” Chappaz added.

Broad Regulatory Coordination

The August 26 summit at Bercy brought together officials from multiple agencies, including media regulator Arcom, data protection authority CNIL, the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Representatives from Pharos — France’s online content reporting platform — also took part, alongside “trusted flaggers,” independent groups tasked with flagging harmful digital content.

Authorities agreed on both immediate safety measures and long-term reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Expanding Enforcement and Citizen Role

As part of the measures, Chappaz has asked the Prime Minister to approve an inspection mission to identify "enforcement gaps" and recommend "new legislation." She also pointed to ongoing work started in July with MPs Arthur Delaporte and Stéphane Vojetta on regulating how creators monetize content, particularly when violent or degrading material is involved.

Additionally, the government will expand citizen participation through a digital reserve programme authorized under the recent SREN law. This initiative will allow volunteers to assist in detecting and reporting illegal content online.

Meanwhile, Arcom confirmed it is relaunching the Observatory of Online Hate, an initiative that aims to improve national coordination in tackling hate speech and harmful material across platforms.

Chappaz praised the contributions of community moderators and trusted flaggers, calling them “essential digital watchdogs” in protecting vulnerable users.

What Comes Next

With both judicial and criminal inquiries underway, France’s action could mark a precedent for how governments regulate livestreaming platforms in Europe. The case highlights a growing political consensus that platforms cannot simply rely on community guidelines but must be held legally accountable when abusive or violent content is left unchecked.