Twitch stops US army's fake competitions that directed viewers to recruitment page

[midian182]

A hot potato: The US Army’s Twitch channel has been reprimanded by the platform after it used fake game controller giveaways to direct people to a recruitment form. The controversy comes soon after it was criticized for blocking viewers who asked about war crimes.

As reported by The Nation, the Army, Navy, and Air Force all have dedicated eSports teams that stream on Twitch. The members consist of active and reserve members of the military who talk about their love of gaming and the armed forces.

The publication writes that the channel’s streams were regularly populated with an automated chat prompt that offered the chance to win the $200+ Xbox Elite Series 2. But clicking on this link directed people to an army recruitment form with no mention of a competition, odds, number of winners, or draw dates.

The fake competition drew the ire of many viewers and other streamers, complaining that any other channel would face repercussions for similar actions. It seems Twitch heard the complaints and has now stopped the army from running these ‘giveaways.’

“Per our Terms of Service, promotions on Twitch must comply with all applicable laws,” a spokesperson for the site told Kotaku. “This promotion did not comply with our Terms, and we have required them to remove it.”

just having a good time with the US Army esports twitch stream @JordanUhl pic.twitter.com/qnjyxg1KP0

— Rod Breslau (@Slasher) July 8, 2020

The army’s Twitch stream is also being accused of violating viewers’ First Amendment rights after banning users who asked about its favorite war crimes. While channels can ban who they want, anything classed as a government public forum can’t silence citizens. The free speech laws are the same reason why Donald Trump can’t block people on Twitter. The ACLU has also spoken out against the army. “Calling out the government’s war crimes isn’t harassment, it’s speaking truth to power,” the organization said on Twitter. “And banning users who ask important questions isn’t ‘flexing,’ it’s unconstitutional.”

Calling out the government’s war crimes isn’t harassment, it’s speaking truth to power. And banning users who ask important questions isn’t "flexing," it’s unconstitutional. https://t.co/E8N10fM5IR

— ACLU (@ACLU) July 10, 2020

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/86038-twitch-stops-us-army-fake-competitions-directed-viewers.html

 

[QuantumPhysics]

If the army is so desperate to recruit all they need to do is offer a student loan forgiveness program.

If they want to step it up a notch they could offer a child support forgiveness program.

If they want to step it up just one more notch all they need to do is offer a back tax forgiveness program.

Eventually you’ll have to fight for this government simply to actually keep money in your wallet.

 

[candle_86]

If the army is so desperate to recruit all they need to do is offer a student loan forgiveness program.

If they want to step it up a notch they could offer a child support forgiveness program.

If they want to step it up just one more notch all they need to do is offer a back tax forgiveness program.

Eventually you’ll have to fight for this government simply to actually keep money in your wallet.

They already do student loans, it's called the GI Bill.

 

[ColdSoup]

If the army is so desperate to recruit all they need to do is offer a student loan forgiveness program.

If they want to step it up a notch they could offer a child support forgiveness program.

If they want to step it up just one more notch all they need to do is offer a back tax forgiveness program.

Eventually you’ll have to fight for this government simply to actually keep money in your wallet.

The Army already offers all 3 of those things, at least the same effects are achieved if not directly offered. GI bill. Additional money for housing if you have kids. The first $100k earned overseas is completely tax free. Oh and you get 100% healthcare coverage for life but often from mediocre providers.

 

[m4a4]

If the army is so desperate to recruit all they need to do is offer a student loan forgiveness program.

If they want to step it up a notch they could offer a child support forgiveness program.

If they want to step it up just one more notch all they need to do is offer a back tax forgiveness program.

Eventually you’ll have to fight for this government simply to actually keep money in your wallet.

Sounds like you didn't even take the time to google a topic you knew nothing about...

 

[m4a4]

Wait, trolls are whining that they got blocked for trolling?

Man, how powerful /s

 

[Bulllee]

Sounds like you didn't even take the time to google a topic you knew nothing about...

Haha..he does now.

 

[Uncle Al]

The Army never was very bright when it came to recruitment. My last assignment was to the USA Recruitment Command in Chicago (now closed & property sold). I remember the old JOINS system where a gullible person would wander into a recruiting station, play with a large disk system hooked to a computer that had a few early video games and they would supposedly go to more and more things to look at and end up printing and signing their recruitment contract! Well, their first mistake was to build it around a Tandy TRS-80 and it got steadily worse from there. If memory serves, they sunk about $40M into this project and ended up dropping it about 24 months afterwards ...... then they went to the "be all you can be" campaign .....

 

[candle_86]

The Army never was very bright when it came to recruitment. My last assignment was to the USA Recruitment Command in Chicago (now closed & property sold). I remember the old JOINS system where a gullible person would wander into a recruiting station, play with a large disk system hooked to a computer that had a few early video games and they would supposedly go to more and more things to look at and end up printing and signing their recruitment contract! Well, their first mistake was to build it around a Tandy TRS-80 and it got steadily worse from there. If memory serves, they sunk about $40M into this project and ended up dropping it about 24 months afterwards ...... then they went to the "be all you can be" campaign .....

America's Army worked well for them though, I had a few friends that went in to get a free copy that ended up joining.

 

[Getgone]

Lolwat? Murica as always skimped out on something cheap and simple. They could really give some controllers in exchange for advertisement but no. They want cheap slave army for less than an xbox controller.
It's like IQ test so smart people wouldn't join their army.

 

[LuckyMenace]

Army is breaking the rules of engagement on Twitch? Who’d thunk it?