French prosecutors have opened an investigation into the Australian video platform Kick over the death of a content creator during a livestream.
Rapha *ël Graven – also known as Jean Pormanove – was found dead in a residence near the city of Nice last week.
He was known for videos in which he endured apparent violence and humiliation.
The Paris prosecutor said the investigation would look into whether Kick “knowingly” broadcast “videos of deliberate attacks on personal integrity”.
The BBC has approached Kick for comment. A spokesperson for the platform previously said the company was “urgently reviewing” the circumstances around Mr Graven's death.
The prosecutor's investigation will also seek to determine if Kick complied with the European Union's Digital Services Act, and the obligation on platforms to notify the authorities if the life or safety of individuals is in question.
In a separate announcement, France's minister for digital affairs, Clara Chappaz, said the government would sue the platform for “negligence” over its failure to block “dangerous content”, according to the AFP news agency.
Mr Graven was found dead on 18 August.
Local media reported the 46-year-old had been subject to bouts of violence and sleep deprivation during streams, and died in his sleep during a live broadcast.
Chappaz has previously described his death as an “absolute horror”.
Kick is a platform similar to Twitch. Users can broadcast content and interact with other users in real time.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jean Pormanove and extend our condolences to his family, friends and community,” said Kick in its previous statement.
The platform's community guidelines were “designed to protect creators” and Kick was “committed to upholding these standards across our platform”, its spokesperson added.
