France will sue Australian streaming platform Kick for “negligence” following the death of content creator Raphaël Graven during a livestream, Digital Affairs Minister Clara Chappaz announced.

Graven, known online as “Jean Pormanove” or “JP,” died during a 12-day livestream marathon on his channel, which specialized in content featuring him enduring abuse or humiliation from other participants. A post-mortem examination revealed his death was not the result of trauma or third-party actions.

“Kick did not do everything possible to stop the broadcast of dangerous content,” Chappaz stated, citing violations of France’s 2004 law regulating online content.

The platform, which recently surpassed the “one billion hours watched” threshold in Q2 2025, faces mounting legal pressure as French prosecutors opened a criminal investigation.

As French newspaper Le Monde reported on August 26, Paris prosecutors have launched a probe into whether Kick “knowingly” broadcast “videos of deliberate attacks on personal integrity,” according to prosecutor Laure Beccuau. The investigation will also examine whether the platform complied with the European Union’s Digital Services Act regarding content moderation obligations.

If found guilty, the platform could face penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and fines of up to €1 million.

Founded in 2022, Kick has built a user base of 57 million by implementing a different approach to creator economics, offering a 95/5 revenue split favoring creators.

Pattern of Content Moderation Issues

The Graven case follows another controversial incident on Kick involving MMA fighter Raja Jackson’s assault on wrestler Stuart Smith during a California wrestling event. The violent incident, which left Smith hospitalized in critical condition, was broadcast on the platform.

Kick has acknowledged the investigation into Graven’s death, stating they are “taking legal advice” and “remain fully committed to cooperating with the relevant authorities.” The platform maintains that its community guidelines are “designed to protect creators” and that it is “committed to upholding these standards.”

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