Twitch Forces U.S. Army to Remove Deceptive Promotions from Channel
Twitch has compelled the U.S. Army to eliminate fake giveaway promotions from its channel following widespread outrage. The promotions, which violated U.S. sweepstakes laws, falsely promised viewers the opportunity to win an Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller. However, when users clicked on the giveaway prompt, they were redirected to unrelated recruitment forms with no mention of the sweepstakes. Streamers and viewers voiced their concerns, calling out Twitch for allowing deceptive marketing tactics.
Twitch Removes Promotions Following Backlash
In response to the criticism, Twitch has taken action and removed the deceptive promotions from the U.S. Army’s channel. As stated in a statement to Kotaku, Twitch emphasized that promotions on their platform must comply with all applicable laws. Since the U.S. Army’s promotion did not meet these requirements, Twitch required its removal.
Controversy Surrounding U.S. Army Twitch Channel
The U.S. Army Twitch channel has faced several controversies in recent weeks. Beyond the false giveaway promotions, the channel also encountered backlash for banning viewers who asked about U.S. war crimes in the chat. Whether these moderation rules violate the First Amendment remains uncertain, but some attorneys argue that banning users for their comments may infringe upon citizens’ right to free speech and expression.
ACLU Argues Against U.S. Army’s Actions
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) criticized the U.S. Army’s decision, stating on Twitter that calling out the government’s war crimes is not harassment but rather speaking truth to power. They further assert that banning users who ask important questions is not flexing, but rather unconstitutional.
The U.S. military has heavily invested in its Twitch and esports recruitment efforts, featuring recruitment channels for various branches and sponsoring esports events. This includes support for ESL Counter-Strike events and the Call of Duty League.