Twitch Ends Contracts for its Safety Advisory Council
Twitch, the streaming platform, has ceased the operation of its Safety Advisory Council, effective today, according to CNBC. The council members will be replaced by Twitch Ambassadors.
History of the Safety Advisory Council
Amazon’s gaming streaming platform, Twitch, established the Safety Advisory Council in May 2020 to “enhance Twitch’s approach to trust and safety issues.” The council advised the platform’s management on “developing new policies and updating” existing ones, on “developing product features for improved safety and moderation“, and on “protecting the interests of marginalized groups“. Additionally, the council consulted on issues like “hate raids” against marginalized groups and nudity policy.
On May 6th, council members were notified that all existing contracts would cease on May 31st, 2024, with no remuneration for their services for the remainder of the year. The council consisted of external experts including Sameer Hinduja, a leader at the Cyberbullying Research Center; Emma Llansó, the director of the “Free Expression” project at the Center for Democracy & Technology; and Dr. T.L. Taylor, co-founder and director of the non-profit organization AnyKey, which promotes diversity and inclusiveness in gaming.
Future of the Safety Advisory Council
According to a CNBC report from a company email, the Safety Advisory Council will now primarily consist of Twitch Ambassadors, who are users “specifically chosen due to the positive impact they have had on the Twitch community.” The remuneration of council members depended on contract duration, ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 per year. Twitch is now enlisting “new council members who would offer fresh, diverse perspectives“, a company spokesperson revealed. With over 180 users currently enlisted as Twitch Ambassadors, the company hopes that “with this new format, we will be able to engage even more voices and viewpoints.” It remains unconfirmed whether council membership will continue to be remunerated.
