Twitch recently suffered a massive data breach that shared all kinds of information about the streaming platform's internal operations. For one thing, the leakers found a list of Twitch streamer income over a period of a couple years, and Twitch users pored over those financial records in detail. If that information is to be believed, then Critical Role and xQc are some of Twitch's top earners, unsurprising as that may be for these hugely popular creators. The Twitch data breach also leaked some source code, which could be trouble for the site in the future, but it also revealed a very odd piece of legislation: a "do not ban" list.
For years, Twitch users and streamers have had mixed feelings about the platform's banning habits. Many have criticized the Twitch administration for having double standards and issuing unequal punishments when two creators break the same rule. That's why Twitch's ban prevention list elicited a strong reaction among users as soon as it came out. It seems that Twitch may have policies in place that keep major creators like Tyler1 from getting banned as soon as they get repeated. Twitch has come forward to explain the list, though, shedding even more light on how Twitch moderates its users.
The Mechanics of Twitch's Do Not Ban List
The list stems from a screenshot of several different moderation actions within Twitch, seemingly happening as accounts get reported. In the midst of several accounts getting reported and presumably banned, streamers Tyler1 and Ricegum can be seen with a tag that reads "do not suspend", as well as a couple Twitch addresses to send the report to. It's not particularly surprising to see Tyler1 and Ricegum receiving reports; both content creators are known for their explosive personalities, which sometimes rub people the wrong way and inspire reports. Even so, it seems like they don't get moderated the same way as everyone else, according to this leaked information.
As striking as it may be that some Twitch users seemingly get preferential treatment, the truth about Twitch's "do not ban" list is a little more complicated. Shortly after the Twitch leak, some former Twitch employees told the Washington Post that the leaked list was actually five years out of date, showing Twitch policy from around 2016. These employees also explained that the list operated in conjunction with a moderation tool called Better Desk, which looked at rule violations by Twitch partnered streamers more closely before handing out punishment. In other words, the "do not ban" list didn't prevent bans, but simply put punishments on hold so that a more specialized Twitch team could look at the reports.
Still, it seems Better Desk had its imperfections. While the system kept Twitch partners and the site's staff from getting knocked off the platform for trivial offenses, the former Twitch employees said that the program did sometimes protect certain streamers more than it should have. For instance, although Tyler1 has improved his behavior in recent years, he certainly committed verbal abuse worthy of a ban in the time of the "do not ban" list and Better Desk. As such, it seems Twitch moderation sometimes gave way to protecting important sources of Twitch revenue.
Could the Twitch List Shape Future Bans?
The story behind Twitch's leaked "do not ban" list is certainly complicated. Even if it's not in use anymore today, it certainly sheds some light on Twitch's internal operations. One wonders if Twitch has changed its tune over the years, considering its willingness to hand out large and small bans to streamers like Dr. Disrespect, Amouranth, and xQc. As important as these Twitch streamers are or were to the platform's economy and culture, they've all received punishments from Twitch. Hopefully Twitch staff is discussing the "do not ban" list again behind closed doors - not to potentially reinstate it, but to learn new lessons from the old list and figure out how to moderate Twitch more consistently.