Latest news with #HasanAbi
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Twitch faces backlash unbanning HasanAbi after one-day ban over terrorist content discussion
Twitch is facing criticism from parts of the online community after reinstating political commentator Hasan Piker, known as 'HasanAbi,' just over a day after suspending him for 'improper handling of terrorist propaganda.' HasanAbi was banned on May 25, 2025, after covering the motives behind a shooting involving Israeli embassy staff. According to Twitch's Terms of Service, even critical examination of terrorist content can lead to suspension. Hasan addressed the incident on X (formerly Twitter), saying, 'I believe this is a bad policy for news and press freedom. I'll take the suspension, but hope Twitch changes this policy in the future.' i covered the motives of the israeli embassy staff shooter. twitch tos dictates a suspension for even critical examination of the manifesto. i believe this is a bad policy for news and press freedom. ill take the suspension, but hope twitch changes this policy in the future. — hasanabi (@hasanthehun) May 25, 2025 Shortly after his statement, Twitch reinstated his channel. According to the automated account @StreamerBans, the suspension lasted one day, six minutes, and 20 seconds. The short duration of the ban has drawn scrutiny from viewers and fellow streamers. Reddit users on r/LivestreamFail criticised the timing and impact of the suspension, with one commenting, 'They banned him during his day off, so the ban means nothing.' Another wrote, 'Allow CEO's favourite streamer to spread terrorist propaganda… problem solved.' Prominent Twitch personality Zack "Asmongold" also weighed in, criticising Twitch's approach to moderation. '24-hour suspensions serve no purpose and act more often as a reward than punishment through the extra attention they create,' he said. 'Why ban for critiquing a terrorist manifesto but not for endorsement?' 24 hour suspensions serve no purpose and act more often as a reward than punishment through the extra attention they create Why ban for critiquing a terrorist manifesto/propaganda but not for endorsement Is criticizing terrorism ToS but promoting isnt? Make it make sense — Zack (@Asmongold) May 25, 2025 The backlash has reignited tensions between the two streamers. In response to Asmongold's remarks, HasanAbi referred to him as a 'disgusting little creature.' The controversy underscores growing concerns around Twitch's content moderation policies and highlights broader debates on censorship, journalistic freedom, and consistency in platform enforcement.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Hasan Piker aka HasanAbi responds after Twitch ban over 'repeated violations', internet slams streamer: 'You should be in prison'
Hasan Piker, better known online as HasanAbi, is once again at the centre of controversy—this time for getting banned from Twitch after making posts about on motive behind the Israeli embassy shooting in Washington, DC. The 33-year-old streamer acknowledged the suspension in a statement and called on the platform to change its policy, but many online weren't buying it. The incident in question involved 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, who fatally shot two Israeli embassy staffers near a Jewish museum earlier this week. As he was arrested, Rodriguez reportedly shouted 'Free Palestine.' Authorities have confirmed the case is being investigated as both a hate crime and an act of terrorism, with a court hearing scheduled for June 18. Twitch bans HasanAbi from Twitch over 'sharing content related to terrorist' HasanAbi's suspension came shortly after he discussed Rodriguez's manifesto on stream. Twitch later issued a notice stating that his content violated their policy on handling terrorist propaganda. According to the platform, 'sharing content related to terrorist or violent extremist groups' is strictly prohibited, even if the discussion is meant to be critical or journalistic. 'In reviewing your activity or content, we've issued a global suspension on your account,' Twitch wrote in its official notice to Hasan. 'Repeated violations may lead to more serious actions, including longer suspensions or permanent bans.' Hasan responds, 'Bad policy for news and press freedom' Piker didn't shy away from the controversy and posted a response, explaining his intent and frustrations. 'I covered the motives of the Israeli embassy staff shooter,' he wrote. 'Twitch TOS dictates a suspension for even critical examination of the manifesto. I believe this is a bad policy for news and press freedom. I'll take the suspension but hope Twitch changes this policy in the future.' i covered the motives of the israeli embassy staff shooter. twitch tos dictates a suspension for even critical examination of the manifesto. i believe this is a bad policy for news and press take the suspension, but hope twitch changes this policy in the future. He also noted that he had examined the shooter's writings critically, not to endorse them, but to analyze them from a journalistic angle. However, the timing didn't sit well with many, especially given that just two days before the shooting, Piker hosted a livestream with George 'Bad Empanada' Ganitis, a content creator known for making repeated anti-Israel remarks. Internet slams Hasan Piker: This should've happened sooner' While Piker has a loyal fanbase, the reaction online was mixed, and many users didn't hold back. 'Promoting hate will get you banned,' one user wrote bluntly. Another added, 'Maybe don't support terrorism?' Some responses were more critical of Hasan's overall tone and approach. 'Stop just immediately going on the defensive. Take some time for reflection… it is OK to be wrong,' one commenter said, urging him to reconsider the impact of his words. 'This should've happened way sooner,' said another. 'You've been spewing hateful and violent rhetoric for years.' Promoting hate will get you banned... Maybe don't support terrorism? This shouldve happened way sooner. You've been spewing hateful and violent rhetoric for years. Dan Clancy loves you too much though you'll be back in a day You should be in prison, not just banned from Twitch. You're inspiring people to kill innocent people for no reason other than you said with your own shit filled mouth to do so. But thank God (not Allah) that you say "in Minecraft!" To cover your ass. Also tell us what really… It's unclear how long the suspension will last, but Hasan's absence is already sparking debate around content moderation, journalism, and free speech on livestreaming platforms.
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Why Hasan Piker was banned from Twitch; HasanAbi's Israel embassy claims surface
Hasan Piker, aka HasanAbi, was banned from Twitch after he made posts about the Israeli embassy staff shooter, Elias Rodriguez's motive. The streamer issued a statement acknowledging the ban, and asking the streaming service to 'change this policy'. 'I covered the motives of the israeli embassy staff shooter. twitch tos dictates a suspension for even critical examination of the manifesto. i believe this is a bad policy for news and press freedom. I'll take the suspension, but hope twitch changes this policy in the future,' Piker wrote on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
The 'Democrats' answer to Joe Rogan' is detained after giving border agents blunt response about Trump
Popular political streamer Hasan Piker said his left-wing views got him detained by agents with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Chicago 's O'Hare International Airport. Piker, who streams under the name HasanAbi, said that upon his return from Paris on Sunday, he was confronted by border patrol agents before he could officially re-enter the country through Global Entry. In a Monday video, Piker said the agent who interrogated him first asked about what he did for a living. Piker, who stressed that he is a US citizen, said that then snowballed into questions about what he covers on his online platforms and whether he talks about President Donald Trump. The question about Trump was what got Piker to question the motives of the agent, he said. 'That was the first time where I was like, "What is this question?"' he recalled. 'I literally straight up told him, "Why are you asking me this?"' That didn't stop Piker from sharing his opinion on Trump, telling the agent, 'I don't like Trump. What are you going to do? It's protected by the First Amendment. I don't like Trump.' 'Nothing I've done online is illegal as of now,' he added. 'Now laws may change in the future and they might actually start prosecuting speech, which I do fear is the goal of this administration. But so far, everything I've done is fully protected under the First Amendment.' In a statement to The Hill, Tricia McLaughlin, Homeland Security assistant secretary, denied that Piker was scrutinized because of his political beliefs. 'This is nothing but lying for likes. Claims that his political beliefs triggered the inspection are baseless. Our officers are following the law, not agendas,' McLaughlin said. 'Upon entering the country, this individual was referred for further inspection — a routine, lawful process that occurs daily, and can apply for any traveler. Once his inspection was complete, he was promptly released,' she added. Piker concluded that the real reason for CBP pulled him aside was so they could investigate his suspected ties to terrorist organizations in the Middle East, including Hamas, the Houthis and Hezbollah. Piker denies any direct connection or involvement with any of these groups, however, he did receive backlash earlier this year for doing an interview with Rashid Al Haddad, a 19-year-old thought to be a member of the Houthis. The Houthis have been designated a terrorist group by the US. They primarily operate in Yemen and have been attacking cargo ships and military vessels traveling through the Red Sea in order to disrupt Israel's war effort against Hamas. In Piker's interview with Haddad, who has been nicknamed 'Tim-Houthi Chalamet' for his resemblance to the American actor, the young man said he wasn't a fighting soldier for the Houthis. A picture of him later emerged showing him standing on a hill overlooking fields and villages below with an AK-47 rifle slung over his shoulder. Also, when Haddad was later asked by one of his Instagram followers if he was soldier, he responded 'yes.' Piker said he was asked about this incident specifically, to which he told the CBP agent that the man he interviewed was not a Houthi and was simply a regular Yemeni citizen. Piker added that even if he had interviewed a Houthi or any other member of a terror group, it would be his right to do so as an act of journalism. Piker said the CBP agent repeatedly asked him whether he 'liked' or 'supported' Hamas. He also said he was asked if he viewed Hamas as a resistance group or a terrorist group. Piker said he responded either by saying he is on the side of civilians and wants the bloodshed to stop, or by saying the State Department recognizes Hamas as a terrorist organization. According to Piker, the agent then refocused on the Houthis, asking him whether he agrees that they should be designated as terrorists. 'I said I'm of the Brookings Institution mindset that in 2020 when Donald Trump initially designated the Houthis as a terror organization that that was a major mistake,' Piker recalled. The Brookings Institution, a liberal think tank, did in in fact argue it was a mistake for the first Trump administration to officially declare the Houthis terrorists. 'Designating the Houthis would be bad for Yemeni civilians, bad for peace talks, and, ultimately, bad for U.S. national security. It would also box-in President-Elect Biden before he even takes the oath of office, although perhaps that's part of the attraction for exiting Trump officials,' Brookings analyst Gregory D. Johnsen wrote on November 25, 2020. Piker said the agent eventually 'gave up' when he kept saying that what he's said online is protected speech under the US Constitution. The conversation between him and the agent, which Piker said lasted about two hours, abruptly ended when he eventually asked if he was being detained and if he could freely walk out.
Washington Post
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Twitch star HasanAbi says he was detained, questioned by border agents
Hasan Piker, a popular Turkish American online streamer who has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, said Monday that he was detained and questioned at length by Customs and Border Protection officers upon returning to the United States this weekend. Piker, a U.S. citizen who streams on Twitch under the name 'HasanAbi,' said in a livestream that he was taken aside after landing at Chicago O'Hare International Airport from Paris on Sunday — despite having enrolled in Global Entry, a CBP program that is supposed to give expedited clearance to 'pre-approved, low-risk travelers' returning to the United States.
