Tech

Streamer strife as hate-raids hit Twitch

Published

4 years ago

September 3, 2021

ticker NEWS

While Twitch streamers go dark in protest of hate-raids on the platform, it’s a symptom of a larger issue within internet culture

Recently streamers have been bombarded with homophobic, racist and sexist bots, which are spamming messages in their chat for an extended period of time.

In May, Twitch introduced a feature with tags related to sexual orientation, gender, and race among others. This feature was requested by the community, but inadvertently allowed malicious hate-raids to target content creators using the tags.

Streamer BrySuperSaurus told Ticker News that while Twitch is aware of the issue, content creators on the platform want to see more done to combat hate raids and online trolling.

“Hate and hurtful, harmful comments, trolls for people on Twitch isn’t a new thing, this has been happening for a long time,” he said.

“But these hate raids and the fact bots are now doing it to people who use these tags has ramped up to an exponential amount.”

Content creators on the platform are frustrated about a perceived lack of action by Twitch, and organised a ‘day off Twitch’ on September 1st in an effort to force the company to take action.

https://twitter.com/megturney/status/1432876805678116864

In a statement on Twitter, Twitch said that they would do more to address the online harassment of targeting marginalised creators.

No one should have to experience malicious and hateful attacks based on who they are or what they stand for. This is not the community we want on Twitch, and we want you to know we are working hard to make Twitch a safer place for creators. https://t.co/fDbw62e5LW
— Twitch (@Twitch) August 20, 2021

Mass bot attacks are a relatively new form of online ‘trolling’, however they are reminiscent of previous attempts carried out by online communities to harass other communities.

The 4Chan community was infamous for these raids, which often took the form of racist, homophobic or anti-Semitic behaviour.

Bot-raids are just the next evolution of these activities, where one person can create an army of bots to do the work that previously would have taken an entire community.

Reddit, one of the internet’s most popular websites, has been fighting its own battle against hate and disinformation. The website introduced quarantining subreddits in an effort to keep them separate from other communities on the website, and has banned subreddits they view as hateful or who have committed ‘brigading’, where members of the community will mass comment to troll other communities on the site.

The issues with hate-raids aren’t solely contained to Twitch, however they risk content creators leaving the platform if they don’t address it quickly.

Related Topics:Business gaming trending twitch VIDEOGAMES

Up Next

WhatsApp cops massive fine for breaking privacy laws

Don't Miss

Why your Instagram stopped working today

ticker NEWS

Click to comment

Tech

OpenAI Unveils ChatGPT Atlas: The Future of Browsing?

Published

1 week ago

October 22, 2025

ticker NEWS

OpenAI has taken another giant leap forward with the launch of ChatGPT Atlas — an AI-powered web browser that could redefine how people search, explore, and interact online. Investors and competitors are watching closely as this new technology challenges the dominance of traditional browsers like Google Chrome.

With ChatGPT Atlas, users may soon experience a web that feels less like typing into a search box and more like conversing with an intelligent assistant. The integration of AI could make browsing faster, more intuitive, and more personalised than ever before — but it also raises serious questions about privacy and data use.

As AI becomes more deeply embedded in the digital world, ChatGPT Atlas could represent the next major step toward a fully AI-driven online experience. What does this mean for users — and for the tech giants trying to keep up?

Tech

OpenAI limits deepfakes after Bryan Cranston’s concerns

OpenAI protects against deepfakes on Sora 2 after Bryan Cranston and SAG-AFTRA raise concerns over unauthorized AI-generated content

Published

2 weeks ago

October 21, 2025

Ahron Young

OpenAI protects against deepfakes on Sora 2 after Bryan Cranston and SAG-AFTRA raise concerns over unauthorised AI-generated content

In Short:
– OpenAI partners with Bryan Cranston and unions to combat deepfakes on its Sora app.
– The app now includes options for people to control their likenesses and voices.

OpenAI announced it will work with Bryan Cranston, SAG-AFTRA, and actor unions to combat deepfakes on its AI video app, Sora.Cranston voiced concerns after unauthorized AI-generated clips featuring his likeness emerged after Sora 2’s launch in late September. He showed gratitude to OpenAI for taking steps to safeguard actors’ rights to control their likenesses.

The partnership aims to enhance protections against unauthorized AI content. The Creative Artists Agency and United Talent Agency had previously criticized OpenAI, citing risks to their clients’ intellectual property.

Last week, OpenAI blocked disrespectful videos of Martin Luther King Jr. at the request of his estate, following similar pressures. Zelda Williams also requested the public refrain from sending her AI-generated clips of her late father, Robin Williams.

Policy Changes

Following tensions post-launch, CEO Sam Altman revised Sora’s policy to give rights holders greater control of their likenesses.

The app now allows individuals to opt-out, reflecting OpenAI’s commitment to respond quickly to concerns from performers.

OpenAI backs the NO FAKES Act, supporting legislation that aims to protect individuals from unauthorized AI-generated representations.

OpenAI is focused on ensuring performers’ rights are respected regarding the misuse of their voices and likenesses. Altman reiterated the company’s dedication to these protections.

Tech

Major apps down as AWS experiences global outage

AWS outage disrupts Fortnite, Snapchat and multiple services globally

Published

2 weeks ago

October 20, 2025

Ahron Young

AWS outage disrupts Fortnite, Snapchat and multiple services globally

In Short:
– AWS outage on Monday disrupted major apps like Fortnite, Snapchat, and affected several global companies.
– UK companies including Lloyds Bank and Vodafone reported issues due to the AWS outage.

Amazon’s AWS experienced a significant outage on Monday, impacting major apps including Fortnite and Snapchat. The disruption affected connectivity for numerous companies globally.AWS reported increased error rates and latencies across multiple services and is attempting to recover quickly.

The outage marks the first significant internet disruption since a previous incident last year that impacted essential technology systems globally. AWS offers on-demand computing and storage services and is vital for many websites and platforms.

Multiple companies reported disruptions, including AI startup Perplexity, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, and trading app Robinhood. Perplexity’s CEO confirmed on X that the outages were linked to AWS issues.

Amazon’s shopping site, Prime Video, and Alexa services also faced difficulties, according to Downdetector. Other affected platforms included popular gaming applications like Clash Royale and financial services such as Venmo and Chime.

Uber competitor Lyft’s app was reported down for numerous users in the U.S. Messaging platform Signal also acknowledged connection problems stemming from the AWS outage.

British Companies

In the UK, Lloyds Bank, Bank of Scotland, and telecom services provider Vodafone were notably affected. The HMRC’s website also encountered issues during this outage.

Elon Musk stated that his platform, X, remained operational despite the widespread disruptions.