Twitch suspends its Boost Train program due to pornographic content

Twitch is suspending its Boost Train program after pornographic content hit the main page.

Twitch has decided to suspend a feature that allows viewers to pay to promote their favorite streamers after attackers used it to promote pornographic content on their homepage. Discovered by PC Gamer, many users of the platform reported, especially on Twitter, that streams of porn videos were on the main page, all with a mention of “Community Driven”. At the root of the problem is the Boost Train issue, which allows streamers to be promoted if enough fans create a “hype train”by buying subscriptions and Bits.

Twitch is suspending its Boost Train program

Since Twitch rolled out the Boost Train feature to partners only, only a small number of streamers were able to take advantage of it. At this stage, it is difficult to know if the attackers had access to accounts that have access to Boost Train.

In an email to Engadget, a Twitch spokesperson said that the Boost Train feature has been suspended “for security reasons.”Twitch did not say if it was able to identify the users responsible for promoting this offensive content or if it intended to restart Boost Train, let alone when.

after pornographic content appeared on the main page

While sexually explicit content is against Twitch’s terms of service, some feel the platform is inappropriate for the type of content it prohibits. The latter uses both community reports and artificial intelligence to determine streams that need to be banned. Dot Esports revealed this week that the platform is considering creating a “mature label”that will allow streamers to offer R-rated content.

Boost Train debuted in early March, replacing the much-loved Paid Boosts program, which allowed fans to pay directly to Twitch to promote their favorite streamers. Boost Train, on the other hand, was aimed at rewarding smaller streamers with a growing fan base.