Streaming platform Twitch bans the word ‘Zionist’ as a proxy for spreading hate toward Jews and Israelis

Under the policy, it’s permissible to say ‘Zionist’ when commenting on the ideology or political movement that led to the founding of Israel but to denigrate Jews or Israelis.

By Asaf Elia-Shalev, JTA

A livestreaming platform popular among video gamers updated its hate speech policy Friday to ban the word “Zionist” when used as a coded slur directed at individuals or groups of people.

The move by Twitch, an Amazon-owned platform with more than 240 million active users, comes after increased scrutiny, including from a prominent lawmaker who recently sent company executives a letter in which he alleged that the platform “emboldens” antisemitism.

In an announcement posted to its official blog Friday, the company explained, “We prohibit the use of terms that may not be harmful or abusive in isolation, but can be used as a slur or to denigrate others in certain contexts.”

Under the policy, it’s permissible to say “Zionist” when commenting on the ideology or political movement that led to the founding of Israel but to denigrate Jews or Israelis.

“Using the term to refer to the political movement, whether in a supportive or critical way, does not violate our hateful conduct policy,” Twitch wrote in the blog post.

“Our goal isn’t to stifle conversation about or criticism of an institution or ideology, but to prevent coded hate directed at individuals and groups of people.”

The platform’s community guidelines page was updated to explain further how the policy works:

“We treat ‘Zionists’ as a proxy for Jews or Israelis if the word is used in a context to promote harm or violence, or when used to make dehumanizing comparisons or perpetuate antisemitic stereotypes.”

It offers examples of allowed and prohibited uses of the word. “Zionist settlers keep encroaching Palestinian borders” would be allowed, but “Zionist [name of animal]” would not be, the company said.

Earlier this month, Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York, who is known as one of the most vocal pro-Israel advocates in the Democratic party, called on Twitch to rein what he characterized as rampant antisemitism on the platform or face potential Congressional scrutiny.

Torres highlighted recent statements by major Twitch streamers connected to the Israel-Hamas war.

For example, Torres pointed out that Hasan Piker, a streamer with nearly 3 million followers, has downplayed or denied the significance of sexual violence by Hamas during the attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.

Piker has also said Orthodox Jews are “inbred” and called a Jewish person a “bloodthirsty pig dog.”

The Anti-Defamation League last month also called on Twitch to do more to combat antisemitism on the platform.

Twitch’s decision to restrict certain users of the word “Zionist” follows a similar policy change made in July by Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram.

The revision to Twitch’s guidelines follows the company’s apology last month for leaving in place a signup hurdle that some Israelis said was keeping them from using the platform.

The company said it had implemented a safeguard to prevent violent content from being shared after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and had not removed it, making it harder for Israelis to sign up.