Gaming platform Twitch is under fire after allowing users to create charity campaigns for controversial nonprofits like Autism Speaks and United Daughters of the Confederacy

Geoff Weiss
Updated ·2 min read
Twitch on phone screen atop a computer keyboard.
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  • Twitch has vastly expanded the number of charities supported by its native fundraising tools.

  • It's now receiving backlash for adding controversial charities including Autism Speaks and United Daughters of the Confederacy.

  • Twitch has removed LGB Alliance from its list of approved charities following a "thorough review."

In late November, ahead of Giving Tuesday, Twitch launched an expansion of its native charity tools, which let creators host fundraising streams for supported organizations.

The tools enable creators to set goals, track donations in real-time, and forwards all funds raised to chosen charities without the platform taking a cut (save payment processing fees.)

Twitch previously only allowed creators to work with a selection of 250 charities, but now the company has a roster of more than 95,000 charities available for creators to choose from.

The rapid growth has garnered substantial backlash, as Twitch has welcomed into its fold several organizations with a controversial history or discriminatory bent, including Autism Speaks, LGB Alliance, and United Daughters of the Confederacy.

On UserVoice, the platform's official feedback forum, a suggestion titled "Remove Hate Groups" has upwards of 16,000 votes and 1,500 comments. "LGB Alliance literally call for the killing and elimination of transgender people," reads the post, by user JessPlayGame. "By allowing them in this section, Twitch is advocating for the genocide of transgender people."

LGB says its mission is to "promote the rights of lesbians, bisexuals, and gay men as recognized by biological sex," but its charitable status has been challenged in the UK amid allegations it aims to denigrate trans people.

Twitch responded to the aforementioned post today, confirming it has removed LGB Alliance from the list of approved charities.

"Twitch does not allow charities that violate our hateful conduct policies on Twitch, or whose organization or leadership engage in or promote behaviors that violate our Off-Service policy," the company wrote. "Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement from Twitch."

Autism Speaks has also incurred criticism from disability advocates for furthering the stigma around autism and catering its work toward impacted families rather than autistic people.

While Twitch is not removing Autism Speaks, it said it's adding other organizations to its roster based on community feedback, including Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network.

Another Twitch streamer, who goes by MBTYuGiOh on Twitter, uncovered several other questionable organizations, including the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Though that organization says it denounces "racial divisiveness or white supremacy," it maintains that "Confederate memorial statues and monuments are part of our shared American history and should remain in place."

"The scale of this program may mean that people within our community may not agree with or support all of the included organizations, even if they are currently compliant with our policies," Twitch wrote in response to a query about Autism Speaks.

Read the original article on Insider