Paris Prosecutor Opens Preliminary Investigation into Streaming Platform Kick After French Streamer's Death

Key facts

• Raphaël Graven, 46, died last week in Nice after a 298-hour continuous live stream on Kick.
• The Paris prosecutor's office has opened a preliminary investigation into Australian streaming platform Kick.
• The investigation examines whether Kick intentionally provided illegal services.
• Authorities are checking Kick's compliance with the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) regarding reporting risks to life and safety.
• The probe also focuses on Kick's monitoring of streams involving deliberate assaults or harmful behavior.
• Graven's death has sparked widespread debate in France about platform responsibility for content creator safety.
• The case comes amid increasing regulatory pressure on European tech companies to ensure user safety.

A Streamer's Fatal Marathon

Raphaël Graven, a 46-year-old French live streamer known to his audience as Jean Burmanov, died last week in Nice after a continuous broadcast that lasted more than 298 hours. Reports indicate that during the stream he was subjected to abusive and degrading treatment. His death has triggered a preliminary investigation by the Paris prosecutor's office into the Australian streaming platform Kick, which hosted the marathon session. The investigation aims to determine whether Kick knowingly provided illegal services. Prosecutors are also examining whether the platform complied with the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA), particularly its requirements for reporting risks to individuals' lives and safety and for monitoring content that involves intentional assaults or harmful behavior.

The Investigation's Scope

The Paris prosecutor's office has opened a preliminary investigation against Kick, focusing on two main areas: whether the platform intentionally offered illegal services and whether it adhered to the DSA's obligations. Under the DSA, platforms must promptly report any credible risks to life or physical safety and must actively monitor streams that could contain deliberate attacks or harmful conduct. Authorities will scrutinize Kick's internal processes and decisions during Graven's broadcast. The streamer's death has raised urgent questions about the duty of care that live-streaming platforms owe to their content creators, especially during extreme endurance streams that push physical and mental limits.

A Community in Mourning, a Platform Under Fire

Graven's death has sent shockwaves through the French streaming community and beyond. Fellow streamers and fans have expressed grief and anger, with many calling for stricter oversight of platforms that host high-risk content. The incident has amplified a broader debate in France about the responsibility of streaming services to protect creators from harm, whether self-inflicted or inflicted by viewers. Kick, which has positioned itself as a competitor to Twitch with looser moderation policies, now faces intense scrutiny. The platform has not yet issued a detailed public statement regarding the investigation or Graven's death. The case adds to growing regulatory pressure on tech companies operating in Europe to prioritize user safety over engagement metrics.

Regulatory Context and Precedents

The investigation unfolds against a backdrop of heightened regulatory activity in Europe. The DSA, which came into full effect in February 2024, imposes strict obligations on large online platforms to assess and mitigate systemic risks, including those to public health and minors. While Kick is not among the largest platforms designated under the DSA, the law still applies to all intermediaries offering services in the EU. This case could set a precedent for how national authorities enforce the DSA's safety provisions against live-streaming platforms. risks or monitor harmful content, the company could face significant fines and operational restrictions. The outcome may also influence how other platforms, including Meta's Instagram and Microsoft's services, handle similar content moderation challenges.

What Comes Next

The preliminary investigation will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to a formal judicial inquiry. French prosecutors will likely request data from Kick regarding Graven's stream, including viewer interactions, moderation actions, and any reports filed during the broadcast. The platform's cooperation—or lack thereof—will be a key factor. Meanwhile, French lawmakers and advocacy groups are expected to push for clearer regulations specifically targeting live-streaming marathons and other extreme content formats. The tragedy has highlighted a regulatory gap: while platforms must report imminent threats, the line between voluntary endurance challenges and harmful behavior remains blurred. Graven's death may accelerate efforts to close that gap.

A Watershed Moment for Platform Accountability

The death of Raphaël Graven is more than a personal tragedy; it is a stress test for the legal frameworks that govern live-streaming platforms. The Paris prosecutor's investigation will probe not only Kick's actions but also the broader question of whether current laws adequately protect individuals who put themselves at risk for content. As the digital economy increasingly relies on user-generated live content, the balance between creative freedom and duty of care has never been more precarious. The outcome of this case could reshape how platforms design their safety protocols, how regulators enforce existing laws, and how society views the human cost of the attention economy.

The bottom line

• The Paris prosecutor's office has launched a preliminary investigation into Kick following the death of streamer Raphaël Graven after a 298-hour live broadcast.
• The probe examines whether Kick intentionally provided illegal services and violated the EU Digital Services Act on reporting life-threatening risks and monitoring harmful content.
• Graven's death has intensified the French debate on platform responsibility for creator safety during extreme content stunts.
• The case may set a precedent for enforcement of the DSA's safety provisions against live-streaming platforms in Europe.
• Regulatory gaps regarding endurance streams and self-harm content are likely to be addressed by French lawmakers in response to the incident.
• Kick's moderation policies and business model are under renewed scrutiny as regulators and the public demand greater accountability.