Twitch will ban people pretending to be naked

Twitch is changing its sexual content policies again, this time to prohibit implied nudity on the platform. The platform already prohibits nudity, but Twitch’s new attire policy, which goes into effect today, also doesn’t allow streamers to “imply or suggest that they are fully or partially nude,” chief customer trust officer Angela Hession says in a blog post.

This policy change comes after Twitch’s recently loosened policies on sexual content. Twitch updated its sexual content policies in December to allow some previously prohibited content as long as it was labeled correctly. However, just two days later, it rescinded part of the newly updated policy that allowed for “artistic nudity” following “community concern.”

Creators continued to push the boundaries of the new policy, as creators are wont to do. Some found ways to suggest that they are fully or partly nude while streaming. For example, they may have positioned the camera in such a way as to indicate that they may be naked. Hession says that while most streamers have labeled their content correctly as having sexual themes (which hides the posts from Twitch’s homepage), users might still see potentially suggestive thumbnails while browsing the site.

Here is the new policy, the bolded emphasis is Hession’s:

We don’t permit streamers to be fully or partially nude, including exposing genitals or buttocks. Nor do we permit streamers to imply or suggest that they are fully or partially nude, including, but not limited to, covering breasts or genitals with objects or censor bars. We do not permit the visible outline of genitals, even when covered. Broadcasting nude or partially nude minors is always prohibited, regardless of context.

For those who present as women, we ask that you cover your nipples and do not expose underbust. Cleavage is unrestricted as long as these coverage requirements are met and it is clear that the streamer is wearing clothing.

For all streamers, you must cover the area extending from your hips to the bottom of your pelvis and buttocks.

Hession also says it is working on a way for streams tagged as having sexual themes to have blurred thumbnails and a way for users to filter out content based on how the content is labeled.

But basically… the entire opening sequence of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me is now forbidden under this updated policy.