Cheating in online games has been a persistent problem—and genuine players abhor the behavior. However, Twitch thinks otherwise and has reflected the new view in its updated Enforcement System. The streaming platform now categorizes cheating in online games as a low-severity violation.
In the updated Enforcement System posted on February 19, 2025, low-severity violations will now expire. The platform said the update will help reduce the risk of streamers losing “their communities and livelihoods for low severity violations”.
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“Around 96% of active streamers have never received a suspension. At the same time, it’s important that our enforcement system be fair and give those who do violate a policy the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to our community in positive ways,” Twitch said.
“Before today, every violation counted against your account permanently, even minor violations of our rules. This system disproportionately impacted longtime streamers, as over time, multiple minor infractions could result in an indefinite suspension. This process could be overly punitive, and was one that didn’t acknowledge community members who had learned from their past mistakes.”
Starting February 19, 2025, Twitch said that most violations will expire and erased from the streamer’s records. Streamers can track when their violations will expire in the Appeals Portal.
Low-severity violations like cheating in video games will remain on the account for 90 days while high-severity violations will stay longer, up to 2 years. The more severe violations will result in immediate indefinite suspensions. Players who are indefinitely suspended for multiple violations within a short period will be eligible to apply for reinstatement after 6 months.
How the new Twitch Enforcement System works
In the new Twitch enforcement system, all accounts will start as being in good standing. When a streamer commits low-severity violations like sharing sensitive content, they will get a one-day suspension and the violation will remain on their account for 90 days.
If the streamer commits another low-severity violation, let’s say cheating in online games, they will get another 1-day suspension and the infraction will remain on their history for 90 days.
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Repeat violations of cheating in online games before the expiration of the strike they already have will earn them a 3-day suspension and the 90-day duration will reset. In other words, the consequences tend to escalate with repeat violations of the same policy.
However, if the streamer does not commit any new violations within 90 days of their last infraction, their account will return to good standing and be wiped clean of all their infractions.
Twitch is working on providing streamers with actual snippets of their chat or video where the violation occurred. Streamers will get this information in both the enforcement email and in the Appeals Portal.
Many gamers will disagree with Twitch on the severity of cheating in online games. Some games are almost unplayable because of the activities of cheaters who are out to ruin the fun for everyone. It is even worse when cheaters rob legitimate players of prize money in tournaments.
Just to prove that cheating is a serious crime, developers and publishers have either taken cheaters to court or banned their accounts. They also invest heavily in anti-cheat software just to make it harder for players who seek unfair advantage to thrive. In some Asian countries, it attracts jail terms and fines. We don’t think anyone would go through that stress if cheating was a less severe offense like Twitch has now labeled it.
What do you think about the new labeling of cheating in online games as less severe and do you think a 1 to 3-day ban is punitive enough? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
