Twitch terminates all members of its Safety Advisory Council

31.05.2024

Twitch is set to dissolve its Safety Advisory Council, as per sources familiar with the matter and official documents.

Established in May 2020, the council comprised nine industry professionals, streamers, and moderators tasked with advising on various trust and safety issues on the platform, including concerns related to children, nudity, banned users, and more.

Initially formed to bolster Twitch’s approach to trust and safety matters, the council provided guidance on policy development, product features for moderation and safety enhancement, and advocated for marginalized groups’ interests.

Over the course of four years, the council played a pivotal role in advising Twitch on issues like “hate raids” targeting marginalized communities and shaping nudity policies.

However, on May 6, council members were informed via email that their contracts would be terminated by May 31, 2024, with no compensation for the latter half of the year.

Notably, the council comprised external advisors, including notable figures like Dr. Sameer Hinduja, Emma Llansó, and Dr. T.L. Taylor.

In the same email announcing the termination, Twitch outlined plans to transition the Safety Advisory Council primarily into Twitch Ambassadors, individuals recognized for their positive impact on the platform’s community.

Compensation for council members ranged between $10,000 and $20,000 per annum, depending on contract duration.

This decision comes amid broader industry trends of cost-cutting and layoffs, particularly within safety and ethics teams, despite a surge in cyberbullying and misinformation, accentuated by the growing use of AI.

Twitch has stated that it’s bringing in new council members to provide diverse perspectives and has emphasized the expansion of its ambassador program to incorporate more voices.

However, the company has refrained from commenting on whether ambassadors will receive compensation.