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A French court has refused a request to block the livestreaming platform Kick across the entire country following the death of streamer Raphaël Graven, better known online as Jean Pormanove. Authorities had asked for a six-month ban on Kick in France, arguing that harmful content linked to Pormanove’s final livestreams should not be allowed to continue. The court ruled that shutting down the whole platform would be too extreme and unfair, especially when other legal options are available. Pormanove passed away on August 18 at the age of 46 while livestreaming, which sparked strong public reaction and raised questions about online safety and platform responsibility.In the days before his death, Pormanove appeared in streams involving fellow creators Owen ‘Naruto’ Cenazendotti and Safine Hamadi. The French media described this period as deeply troubling. Investigators have looked into claims of physical harm, forced substance use, and severe lack of sleep. However, no one has been charged so far. An autopsy later found that Pormanove’s death was not directly caused by another person. Both creators involved have said the streams were planned, consensual, and staged. Pormanove’s mother has also spoken publicly, defending them and saying they generally treated her son well.
French court rules against blocking Kick after Jean Pormanove case
The case was heard in a civil court on November 26. Prosecutors argued that Kick was trying to avoid responsibility by allowing harmful content to remain online. They asked the court to remove all channels linked to Jean Pormanove and to force internet providers to block access to Kick throughout France for six months. Their request was based on a French digital law that allows courts to act quickly in cases involving dangerous online content. However, prosecutors also admitted that blocking the entire platform might go too far. The court agreed and ruled that a nationwide ban would be disproportionate. Instead, the judges supported the idea that specific accounts or content could be targeted if necessary.Even though Kick avoided a country-wide ban, the case is far from over. Kick and its executives are still under criminal investigation by prosecutors in Paris and Nice. If charges are eventually filed, they could face serious penalties, including prison time and large fines. For now, the ruling makes it clear that French courts prefer focused action rather than shutting down an entire platform.Also Read: Jenna Marbles and Julien Solomita mourn the loss of Mr. Marbles at 17
