A class action lawsuit has been filed against Twitch, accusing the Amazon-owned platform of violating California law by prohibiting users from criticizing the site.
On June 1, a lawsuit was filed in California by a Twitch user by the name of Daniel Blitch, claiming the platform was violating the state’s Yelp Law.
The law prohibits businesses from including clauses in contracts that restrict individuals from making statements regarding the business, its staff and its services.
According to the lawsuit, through Twitch’s terms of service and terms of sale, the platform “unlawfully seeks to restrict users’ ability to freely share their experiences with Twitch’s platform and services, in violation of California Civil Code.”
Twitch accused of using TOS to silence criticism
Blitch, an individual from LA, has been subscribed to streamers since at least 2020, and claims that the platform prohibits or discourages users from making statements that could be harmful to its brand.
“Twitch’s Terms includes language to the effect that users may not post content Twitch deems harmful, disparaging, misleading, or offensive. Such provisions are enforced through moderation, account penalties, and removal of content,” the lawsuit alleges, further noting that the site can ban users for any reason,” the suit reads.
As an example, the lawsuit referenced how at one point, there were discussions about Twitch not paying streamers well enough, leading Blitch and other users to be careful about how they approached the topic, even using words like “onionized” instead “unionized.”
“Twitch’s enforcement of its Terms deters users from expressing their genuine views, thereby chilling consumer speech,” the suit added.
Additionally, Blitch claimed that in at least one instance, a Twitch user was reprimanded for their criticisms of the platform.
Because this is a class action lawsuit, other Twitch users in California who purchased subscriptions or goods may be eligible to join. Under the Yelp Law, civil penalties start at $2,500 per violation, but can increase to $10,000 for willful or reckless violations.
At the time of writing, Twitch hasn’t publicly responded to the lawsuit, but this isn’t the first time the site has found itself in legal trouble.
Earlier in 2025, an exclusive Dexerto report revealed the platform had continued to bill some users for subscriptions to streamers who had been permanently banned on the site. Users were subsequently refunded after an attorney had planned a class action lawsuit on behalf of those affected.
Content shared from www.dexerto.com.