France's digital technology minister has issued a concerning warning as authorities continue to investigate the death of streamer Raphael Graven, who was known online as Jean Pormanove.
Pormanove, who also sometimes went by 'JP', was found dead in a room which had been rented for livestreaming near Nice, France, on Sunday (August 17), having passed away when his camera was still running.
The broadcast on the platform Kick had been ongoing for 10 days, during which time Pormanove had been responsive to his viewers' comments. As a result, viewers became concerned when he appeared to stop moving, and no longer reacted to what they were posting.
Pormanove had amassed thousands of followers with his content, which ranged from more common videos, such as gaming sessions, to more controversial posts and extreme challenges.
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'Humiliated and abused for months'
Local media reported that Pormanove was often seen getting humiliated and experiencing violence, including having a water bottle thrown at him during his last broadcast.
He was additionally alleged to have been subject to 'extreme' physical violence, 'deprivation of sleep', and 'ingestion of toxic products'.
According to Dexerto, Pormanove reportedly texted his mom a few days prior to his death, saying he was 'fed up' with the streams.
In the wake of the French streamer's death, the country's digital technology minister, Clara Chappaz, said he had been 'humiliated and abused for months'.
Per Sky News, Chappaz assured that a judicial investigation is now underway.
The minister also issued a warning for a better crackdown on illegal content being shared online.
She said: "Holding online platforms responsible for the dissemination of illegal content is not an option: it is the law. This type of failure can lead to the worst and has no place in France, Europe, or anywhere else."
'Absolute horror'
Sarah El Hairy, France's high commissioner for children, also commented on Pormanove's passing, saying his death was 'horrifying'.
She added: "Platforms have an immense responsibility to regulate online content so that our children are not exposed to violent content. I urge parents to be extremely vigilant."
Kick has released a statement on Pormanove's death, saying the platform is 'deeply saddened by the loss' and extending its condolences 'to his family, friends, and community'.
"We are urgently reviewing the circumstances and engaging with relevant stakeholders to investigate the situation," a spokesperson told LADbible Group.
"Kick's community guidelines are designed to protect creators, and we remain committed to upholding these standards across our platform."
Emily Brown