Why is it that the TOS does not apply to content creators and streamers of Apex Legends? On a daily basis, we see streamers showing extreme toxic behavior, calling fellow players' words I cannot express here as it is breaking the TOS. Is the excuse that it is not EA´s problem, but the platform that they use (I.E YouTube/twitch)? I see other companies actually reaching out to their partner (twitch) and making sure that breaking the ingame TOS is punishable - even if you stream the game.Either the TOS applies to all of us or none of us. And it seems to me that the leadership team in EA simply doesn't care whatsoever about the TOS - as long as you stream the game, you can call people anything under the sun. It seems that the only time EA actually enforces the TOS is when they have nothing to lose, not due to principals or moral. Is that the same vision that the leadership team at EA has?

@NitromethaneAP Again though if they are not being reported for it by the user in the party then Respawn cant do anything. Its as if it never happen. Without valid reports then its here say.

Hi @NitromethaneAP First of all, this is no place to discuss any legal matters. Secondly, these are just my thoughts. TOS doesn't say anything about how anyone should react to what happens in a game. If I wanna scream against my PC when I lose then that is not the problem of Apex. However, if I start ranting toxic things in the chat or calling people names or scream through the mic, then it is probably part of the TOS. If streamers have toxic behavior but don't type/talk in-game, I don't think there is anything Apex can do about it. That is up for the streaming services. Then your second point about name-calling on the forum. This is actually quite strict: no name-shaming whatsoever. Countless posts of cheat accusations have been edited. I've never seen EA ignore posts that break the rules. That being said, this forum is big. There are hundreds of new posts every day, and there always is the possibility for a name-shaming post to get through. If you have a list of 40 links to posts where the players are called out for hacking/etc on this forum, please report them. You can press the 3-dotted thing on the top-right corner of a post and click report. They WILL look into it and see whether the post breaks the rules. Thirdly, player warnings are not always publicly posted.

@E9ine_AC Indeed. If you see toxic behaviour in Apex, just use the in-game report tool. The tool is not only for hackers but also threats, racism and toxic behaviour.

@E9ine_AC the ingame report for cheating does not even work, do you really think EA would ban a streamer with 10k views If I reported them in game when they breached the TOS?Since I am seeing that happen on a daily basis, I would assume atleast one reporting them. And EA being EA, "well we will lose our free marketing, pass"

@NitromethaneAP The in-game report tool does work for cheating, even if they are competitive players or streamers. They are simply no exceptions. There is no: oh this person is hacking and is streaming so well guess that's fine. If you see this happening "on a daily basis", please report it then. As apparently you encounter cheaters every day, you could easily take the opportunity and record a video, right? Send it to Hideouts on Twitter. He manually bans cheaters.

Why does the TOS not apply to content creaters and streamers

23 Replies

E9ine_AC
Hero+
5 years ago
@NitromethaneAPEA cant monitor nor control streamer content. A lot times the streamer is just speaking out and not using voice coms with party member. There for if no one reports said user then no harm was done as he only said it on stream and not in game coms.

If no rules are being broke inside the game itself then its not a concern of Respawns. Only the streaming platform can and would take action against it if they are breaking the platforms rules in place.
As for twitch going after TOS breakers this is mainly being applied to openly streaming cheaters. Some name filtering as well.
NitromethaneAP
5 years ago
@E9ine_ACyeah I do understand that, but these are examples of streamers using the ingame voice or chat.
DYSPROssium
Hero (Retired)
5 years ago
Hi @NitromethaneAP

First of all, this is no place to discuss any legal matters. Secondly, these are just my thoughts.

TOS doesn't say anything about how anyone should react to what happens in a game. If I wanna scream against my PC when I lose then that is not the problem of Apex. However, if I start ranting toxic things in the chat or calling people names or scream through the mic, then it is probably part of the TOS.

If streamers have toxic behavior but don't type/talk in-game, I don't think there is anything Apex can do about it. That is up for the streaming services.

Then your second point about name-calling on the forum. This is actually quite strict: no name-shaming whatsoever. Countless posts of cheat accusations have been edited. I've never seen EA ignore posts that break the rules.

That being said, this forum is big. There are hundreds of new posts every day, and there always is the possibility for a name-shaming post to get through.

If you have a list of 40 links to posts where the players are called out for hacking/etc on this forum, please report them. You can press the 3-dotted thing on the top-right corner of a post and click report. They WILL look into it and see whether the post breaks the rules.

Thirdly, player warnings are not always publicly posted.
E9ine_AC
Hero+
5 years ago
@NitromethaneAP Again though if they are not being reported for it by the user in the party then Respawn cant do anything. Its as if it never happen. Without valid reports then its here say.
DYSPROssium
Hero (Retired)
5 years ago
@E9ine_AC

Indeed. If you see toxic behaviour in Apex, just use the in-game report tool. The tool is not only for hackers but also threats, racism and toxic behaviour.
NitromethaneAP
5 years ago
@E9ine_AC the ingame report for cheating does not even work, do you really think EA would ban a streamer with 10k views If I reported them in game when they breached the TOS?
Since I am seeing that happen on a daily basis, I would assume atleast one reporting them. And EA being EA, "well we will lose our free marketing, pass"
DYSPROssium
Hero (Retired)
5 years ago
@NitromethaneAP

The in-game report tool does work for cheating, even if they are competitive players or streamers. They are simply no exceptions. There is no: oh this person is hacking and is streaming so well guess that's fine.

If you see this happening "on a daily basis", please report it then.

As apparently you encounter cheaters every day, you could easily take the opportunity and record a video, right? Send it to Hideouts on Twitter. He manually bans cheaters.
E9ine_AC
Hero+
5 years ago
@NitromethaneAP I assure you even if big time streamers are breaking the rules they would get backlash from the cmpany. In game reporting does work for cheaters. Problem is false flags. People who are salty and legit die to someone with skill to have the salty person report them for aimbot because they are not as good and cant comprehend someone can have that good of aim.
NitromethaneAP
5 years ago
@E9ine_AC and I can assure you that it is not happening today, I can show you multiple videos of streamers using the ingame voice/chat and breaking the TOS multiple times - I will send that in the report and lets see if that streamer even gets a warning, deal?
Meanwhile if it was just a normal player, indeed they would get punished. Since EA has nothing to lose to enforce the TOS in that situation. Meaning the TOS only really applies to people who arent too famous for it to impact EA negatively - then indeed the TOS stands. Great company values.
E9ine_AC
Hero+
5 years ago
@NitromethaneAPI have stated it twice. If that user is not reported by those in their party then the user has broke no rules. You will not be able to play white knight savior on this one. Only way rules can be broke is if they are actually reported for it. As someone with many big name friends who stream I can assure you they do get warnings / actions taken against them.

Streamers do not remotely get a out of jail free car. They are treated like normal people would be. Wtihout those in their party reporting them though there is nothing that can be done. TOS team also has a job to do and its not to govern twitch. Thats up to twitch.