Death investigation of streamer Jean Pormanove is ongoing to establish the reason behind his passing away live
In a shocking turn of events, a French man identified as Raphaël Graven, known online as Jean Pormanove or JP, died after 298 hours of live streaming on the Australian platform Kick. The live streams, which were primarily focused on JP serving as a punching bag for two influencers, spanned over several months.
The content of these live streams was disturbing, featuring numerous instances of physical violence, strangulations, and humiliation. One particularly troubling moment saw the influencers joking about the risks involved, stating that if JP died during a live stream, it would be due to his poor health, not their actions.
The community following JP's live streams seemed unaware of the gravity of the content. Marie Turcan, a journalist at Mediapart, described the community as extremely masculine, violent verbally, and exchanging insults constantly. One follower expressed that they had occasionally watched the content, finding it somewhat amusing, but will no longer be able to do so following JP's death.
JP was 46 years old and had never filed a complaint. He stated that he earned money through his actions and acted of his own free will. However, it is important to note that JP was not a member of an extreme violent community but was instead a victim of extreme verbal and physical abuse and humiliation by others.
The Australian platform Kick, which broadcast JP's live streams, is known for its lenient moderation rules. In fact, the digital watchdog, ARCOM, has already been seized this year regarding Kick's moderation, but without result. This incident has raised concerns about the insufficient number of ARCOM staff to enforce European digital service regulations, as expressed by Arthur Delaporte, deputy PS of Calvados and specialist in social networks.
Following JP's death, the prosecutor's office in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes) has initiated an investigation into the cause of death. Last December, investigative news outlet Mediapart uncovered a community paying to insult JP and encourage abuses.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible online behaviour and the need for stricter moderation on digital platforms. It is a sobering reminder that the actions we take online can have profound and lasting consequences.
