Twitch forbids the use of 'Zionist' to 'attack or demean,' but says you can still use it to talk about the political movement

CHIBA, JAPAN - 2023/09/23: Online streaming Platform Twitch branding seen at the Tokyo Game Show 2023. (Photo by Stanislav Kogiku/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Twitch has changed its hateful conduct policy to prohibit the use of the term "Zionist" to attack or demean individuals or groups.

"As part of our Hateful Conduct policy, we prohibit the use of terms that may not be harmful or abusive in isolation, but can be used as a slur or to denigrate others in certain contexts," Twitch wrote. "In line with that approach, starting today, using the term 'Zionist' to attack or demean another individual or group of people on the basis of their background or religious belief is against our rules."

Using the term in its political context, however—Zionism, simply put, is a modern political movement that advocates for an explicitly Jewish Israeli state—will not be against the rules, even if applied critically. Twitch's community guidelines now specify that calling someone a "Zionist [animal]" is prohibited, for instance, but saying "Zionist settlers keep encroaching Palestinian borders" is allowed.

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Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.