TECHNOLOGY · ANALYSIS
Broadcasting an execution: platforms differ in their responses
Asked by The Verge about a possible broadcast of an execution by the US government, TikTok and Kick cite their rules to rule it out. Several other major platforms have not responded.
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TikTok and Kick say that a live broadcast of an execution would violate their rules, The Verge reports. The outlet questioned them after an anonymous Pentagon official claimed that an execution would be broadcast live by the US government. This reported statement confirms neither the choice of a platform nor the existence of a broadcasting agreement.
TikTok's response refers to its policy prohibiting shocking and graphic content, including the moment of a person's death. Kick also confirmed that such a broadcast would violate its community guidelines. These responses concern the application of their policies to this specific case.
YouTube, Meta, Twitch and X did not respond to The Verge's requests for comment. The outlet nevertheless notes that the rules of Meta, Twitch and X explicitly prohibit violent content involving a death. It also recalls YouTube's prohibitions on certain dangerous activities and live streams showing a person holding or handling a firearm.
The unresolved issue is how these rules apply to a government broadcaster. A lack of response does not constitute authorization and does not establish that an exception will be granted. For the platforms that have remained silent, the question remains whether they will make an explicit moderation decision in response to a publicly discussed broadcast plan.