Twitch Bans Streamer Who Was Using Platform While Driving

One creator was banned from the live streaming social platform Twitch after he was caught using the platform's chat feature while driving.

On Tuesday, Twitch users discovered that the streamer Knut (full name Knut Spildrejorde) had been banned from the platform, after viewers criticized the platform for its inaction against users who drive while distracted on stream.

In a livestream clip that went viral on X (formerly Twitter) last month, the streamer could be seen driving and chatting to his viewers while seemingly looking down at a phone.

"Why does Twitch always turn a blind eye to distracted driving?" one X user questioned in a Dec. 30. post.

The X bot "StreamerBans" — which automatically keeps track of users who have been banned from the platform — shared Tuesday that Spildrejorde had been banned. His profile now states that he is "temporarily unavailable due to a violation of Twitch's Community Guidelines or Terms of Service."

Indeed, the platform's community guidelines state that users are not allowed to "show or promote ... dangerous or distracted driving, including using a phone while driving and driving under the influence."

Spildrejorde is not the first streamer to have been banned from the platform for distracted driving. The creator ExtraEmily was banned from the platform for 18 hours in October for multiple instances of distracted driving, as well as walking through busy intersections while streaming, which sparked safety concerns from her viewers.

Twitch's action against the creator is also part of a larger crackdown on distracted driving concerns stemming from live streaming. On Jan. 1, a new law took effect in Illinois making it illegal to take part in video meetings, stream or use social media website while driving.