By Sagar V. Mankar Twitch, a leading live-streaming platform widely used by gamers, has updated its hate speech policy to ban the term “Zionist” when used as a slur against individuals or groups. The decision, announced on Friday, November 16, comes amid growing criticism from organizations and lawmakers about the platform’s role in enabling antisemitic content. Twitch, owned by Amazon and boasting over 240 million active users, stated that the change aims to curb harmful language without stifling legitimate discussions.
In a blog post, Twitch clarified the reasoning behind the policy. The platform noted that some terms, although neutral on their own, can take on harmful connotations depending on the context. According to the update, using the term “Zionist” to discuss the ideology or political movement that led to Israel’s founding remains acceptable. However, its use as a derogatory term targeting Jews or Israelis violates Twitch’s hateful conduct guidelines.
“Our goal isn’t to limit discourse about institutions or ideologies but to prevent coded hate aimed at individuals or groups,” the blog post emphasized. The updated community guidelines further explained that “Zionist” would be considered a proxy for Jews or Israelis if used to promote harm, perpetuate stereotypes, or make dehumanizing comparisons. Examples provided by Twitch illustrate the policy’s scope: a statement like “Zionist settlers keep encroaching Palestinian borders” is permissible, while derogatory phrases such as “Zionist [name of animal]” are prohibited.
This policy change follows increased scrutiny from figures like U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres of New York, a prominent pro-Israel advocate. Earlier this month, Torres urged Twitch to address what he described as widespread antisemitism on the platform, citing offensive remarks by influential streamers in the context of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. One notable example was Hasan Piker, a popular Twitch streamer with nearly 3 million followers, who has made controversial comments about Orthodox Jews and minimized reports of sexual violence during the October 7 Hamas attacks.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has also been pressing Twitch to enhance its efforts against antisemitism. Similar policy adjustments have been made by other platforms, such as Meta, which implemented restrictions on the use of the term “Zionist” in July.
This development comes shortly after Twitch apologized for inadvertently limiting access to Israeli users. The platform had implemented measures to block violent content after the October 7 attacks but left these safeguards in place, creating challenges for new users in Israel to sign up. Twitch’s latest actions highlight its ongoing efforts to balance free expression with the need to foster a safer online environment.