Twitch has made the decision to terminate the contracts of all current members of its Safety Advisory Council.
Twitch Advisory Council Contracts Terminated Abruptly
The council was informed earlier this month that Twitch would not be renewing their contracts. It has been reported that the termination of their contracts will take effect on Friday, May 31, without any further pay.
The advisory council consists of nine industry experts, streamers, and moderators who provide valuable insights and guidance on trust and safety matters concerning children on Twitch, nudity, banned users, and various other related issues.
Over the course of four years, the group provided valuable guidance to the company regarding issues such as "hate raids" targeting marginalized groups and policies related to nudity, The Verge reported.
However, in the afternoon of May 6, council members were unexpectedly summoned to a meeting following the receipt of an email stating that all current contracts would come to an end on May 31, 2024.
Furthermore, it was communicated that they would not be compensated for the latter half of 2024.
Twitch Terminates SAC Contracts, Payment Withheld
In a formal notice in the same email, the company stated, "According to section 5(a) of the SAC advisor Agreement, we are writing to inform you of the termination..." This indicates that the second 2024 payment will not be issued.
According to CNBC, payment varied based on the duration of the contract, with council members receiving compensation ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 per 12-month period, as confirmed by a reliable source.
Twitch's recent move to terminate the SAC's contracts aligns with the ongoing trend of cost-cutting and downsizing in the tech industry.
Many companies, including Twitch, have been reducing their focus on safety and ethics teams, which are often seen as areas of expense.
The cuts are occurring during a period of heightened concern over cyberbullying, which has been associated with a rise in self-harm among adolescents.
Additionally, the proliferation of misinformation and violent content is intersecting with the growing utilization of AI.
Join the Conversation