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User streams New Zealand terror attack on Artifact's Twitch section

Twitch's Artifact section has a big problem, and that became abundantly clear when thirty minutes of the New Zealand terror attack aired live on the streaming platform.

Asif Khan

May 27, 2019 10:30 AM

Rod Breslau

17

Artifact is not a remotely popular game, and the result on Twitch has been really troubling. Over the past few weeks, Twitch streamers have started going live in the Artifact section of the platform with content that is not actually gameplay from the CCG. Viewers have been treated to pornographic content, and a lot of other bizarre things, but today someone streamed footage of the terror attack in Christchurch, New Zealand. The stream stayed live for thirty minutes before Twitch ultimately had it taken down.

okay WTF twitch

WARNING: the new zealand mosque massacre is being streamed in full in the artifact section to 3,000 viewers for over 20 minutes now pic.twitter.com/N39CXVkNlT

— Rod Breslau (@Slasher) May 27, 2019

Rod Breslau immediately reported the stream via Twitch, and then took to Twitch to signal boost what was happening on the Artifact section of the streaming service. He had pointed out pornography being streamed to thousands of people, just yesterday.

oh wow nice Artifact has over 10,000 viewers right now let me go check how it- pic.twitter.com/Rzwksyvqwc

— Rod Breslau (@Slasher) May 26, 2019

Twitch has a problem moderating Artifact channels, and trolls are running wild in there. It is pretty easy to get to the top of the Artifact section these days with unrelated content. Rod's tweet ultimately got the attention of Twitch, and the rebroadcast of the terror attack was halted, but it ran for 30 minutes before anything was done. That is unacceptable, and hopefully this is a wakeup call to all live streaming platforms about the dangers of poorly moderated user-generated content streams.

"People have been messing with the abandoned Artifact section on Twitch for days now streaming porn, movies, and ice poseidon content. Twitch staff absolutely should have been on top of it to maker sure content like this is not broadcasted," said Breslau in a tweet.

We will not be making any mention of the channels involved in these terrible streams. It is not our job to signal boost this disgusting act, but the fact that a terror attack was rebroadcast for 30 minutes is a huge failure on the part of Twitch as a platform, and they must be held accountable.  

Asif Khan

CEO/EIC/EIEIO

Asif Khan is the CEO, EIC, and majority shareholder of Shacknews. He began his career in video game journalism as a freelancer in 2001 for Tendobox.com. Asif is a CPA and was formerly an investment adviser representative. After much success in his own personal investments, he retired from his day job in financial services and is currently focused on new private investments. His favorite PC game of all time is Duke Nukem 3D, and he is an unapologetic fan of most things Nintendo. Asif first frequented the Shack when it was sCary's Shugashack to find all things Quake. When he is not immersed in investments or gaming he is a purveyor of fine electronic music. Asif also has an irrational love of Cleveland sports.