“We must legislate ambitiously on cyberbullying”

” Being a “streamer” on Twitch? It’s both the worst and the best experience of my life. “says Leaching, a 26-year-old young woman and “streamer”, at RFI. It all starts with the fed up of his colleague maghla, on October 24th. ” I’m exhausted “, she writes in a thread Twitter, where she reveals the chilling acts perpetrated by her harassers on a daily basis: pornographic photo montages, sexual role-playing featuring her, threats, insults, harassment online as in life…

His testimony causes a chain reaction. Many “streamers” have in turn started reporting the cyberbullying they experience every day. Some denounce it, testify to their experience and point the finger at the problem for years, but nothing changes. ” This harassment is not at all new. But if we don’t talk about it so little, it’s because people don’t care. For many, it is our fault. It’s the idea that because we chose to expose ourselves, we have the right to say what we want about ourselves », abounds Lixiviatio.

But then, is there a real way to hold the perpetrators of these threats accountable, and to fight impunity in digital spaces where everything seems to be devoid of rules? Because for Lixi, behind this unbearable cyberbullying which she also bears the brunt of, “ it must be understood that what we denounce does not only affect “streamers”, but all women “. This is why the “streamer” hopes for a real response, both from the platforms themselves, and from the State, for more regulation.

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End of anonymity on the internet: false good idea

Among the solutions advocated, some recommend putting an end to anonymity on these streaming, for more security. However, the “streamers” are sounding the alarm, because for them, giving up anonymity is putting themselves in even more danger. ” If there is no more anonymity for the people who harass us, there will be no more anonymity for us either, and that risks exposing us even more. We would become easy targets if someone wants to harm us. People would find our personal information even more easily “, alarmed Lixi.

For the young woman, it is up to the platforms to be more vigilant. Twitch has however said that it is committed against cyberbullying and has already announced several times that it is taking measures, such as the detection of malicious users or the possibility of only allowing people with verified phone numbers to participate in discussions. cat.

Meager measures, according to Laure Salmona, co-founder of Feminists Against Cyberbullying Association. ” Basically, are these platforms really trying to moderate? We must not forget that for them, this violence generates profit and they have an imperative of profitability. The more polarization there is in the discussions, the more violence there is, the more traffic there is, the more comments there are, and the more money it generates for them. “, explains the co-founder of the association. According to Laure Salmona, we should put ethics before profit, and think of ” systems where communities can create their own moderation rules, to allow “streamers” a form of power over the messages they receive “.

Already in November 2021, these professionals of the stream also pointed to this lack of ambition on the part of Twitch and other platforms. ” Their moderation tools are outdated. It is enough for people to make just a small spelling mistake or to change a letter for forbidden words to pass, suddenly, they are useless », was indignant Manonolita near Numeramawhile the “streamer” Shakaam lamented the ease with which one can recreate an account on Twitch, even once banned.

Liability of other male streamers

Another essential response for “streamers”: the regulation of cat, videos and content, by their male colleagues. For Lixi, it would be necessary to sanction more broadly the “streamers” who tolerate insulting remarks under their videos, or perpetuate them themselves. ” For me, our community is a reflection of who we are and what we allow. If we let this type of remark pass, then that means that in the end, we are also somewhat in agreement. There are big “streamers” who convey misogynistic comments, and it helps to validate the horrible things that some users say », points out Lixi.

A duty of representation that requires you to stand before your community. ” Given the mixed audiences, we can’t say everything we want “says the young woman. Because some of the users are also children. “ Sometimes in my cati have people who are 10 years old, while it is only allowed for over 18she adds. The big problem is that kids see the awful things being said in these chats, then repeat them to their buddies and internalize this type of behavior as if it’s okay. »

In BFM video broadcast on November 1, the “streamer” Nat Ali recalls, moreover, that these male harassers are not “ just crazy or degenerate guys “. ” You have to understand that these guys feel validated in their behavior because they have seen others do it, because they have never been reprimanded, because there is enormous impunity on the internet. “, she points out.

Need for better handling of complaints by the police and justice

If nothing changes for the “streamers”, it is also because of a ” big legal lack “, reports Lixiviatio. Acts of cyberbullying are reprehensible and punishable by law, up to two years in prison and a fine of 35,000 euros. ” But the police are almost incapable of dealing with this type of harassment. She is not trained, does not always have the means or the time. If we want to file a complaint, we will tell you most of the time: “but Madam, we just insulted you on the internet, it doesn’t matter”. Or else, you have to come up with huge folders where everything is perfectly listed. And I understand so much that we don’t have the strength to do all this Lixi sighs.

Indeed, successful complaints require an incalculable amount of proof beforehand. Maghla obtained justice and succeeded in convicting one of his harassers, who was sentenced to a year in prison at the beginning of 2022, after gathering more than a thousand screenshots, video and audio recordings. ” It is a very long, very expensive procedure. For example, screenshots of violent messages must be certified, which cost around 100 euros per message. Access to justice is therefore all the more complicated for precarious victims. “says Laure Salmona.

According a group survey Feminists Against Cyberbullying led by Ipsos, 67%” victims of cyberbullying who have taken the step of filing a complaint have been refused this deposit “.

Work started by the government, deemed insufficient

As Paris Games Week unfolds this week, paradise for gamersJean-Noël Barrot, Minister Delegate for the Digital Transition, rightly declared that the government was going to organize a meeting “ in the next few days » between the victims of cyberbullying, the video game industry and the platforms of streaming. Objective : ” Stop this unacceptable online hate “, without giving more details on the realization of such a meeting.

Since mid-October, the Interministerial Delegation for the fight against racism, anti-Semitism and anti-LGBT hatred (DILCRAH) has, for its part, launched a series of workshops to reflect on a “code of conduct” for video game players. ” This code is intended for players between 18 and 25 years old, in order to encourage them to identify and fight against the toxicity that can be found in the gaming experience, and on exchange platforms such as Twitch, Discord or Reddit “, indicates the DILCRAH. A restitution of the work produced during these workshops must take place at the beginning of 2023, to propose this code as well as an awareness campaign on the subject.

For Lixiviatio, you have to go much further. ” A code of conduct is great, but it won’t work until it’s actually enforced. We should make real laws, legislate ambitiously on this problem. And understand that it’s not just a video game problem, but a societal problem “, she says.

This code of conduct is also proof for Laure Salmona of the lack of political will to change things. ” Of course, it doesn’t cost much to establish recommendations, but it costs much more to train people.she notes. It’s not sufficient. The victims are left to their own devices, there is no national structure to support them and too few specialized associations. »

For her, one thing is certain: There will be no change until there is money put on the table to really fight cyberbullying, and hold the platforms to account. »