Many followers of streamers have been wondering about the swatted meaning Twitch in context. Many people are now interested in learning how they may protect themselves after watching swattings on websites like YouTube and Twitch over the years.
Therefore, in this article, we are going to draw examples from recent incidents and explain the swatted meaning Twitch in context. Hence, if you’re wondering what is the swatted meaning Twitch in context, continue reading down below.
What is the swatted meaning Twitch’s context?
Swatting may seem like a harmless action, but it actually has highly negative effects.
Swatting basically refers to the practice of making up an emergency and calling the police to request a SWAT unit.
These calls are frequently described as pranks because they are made while someone is streaming, allowing for real-time viewing.
Is swatting a crime?
Practical jokes or pranks are normally harmless, but swatting could get you in trouble.
Swatting was made a federal offense in the US in 2015, and those found guilty might receive a life sentence.
One of the most infamous swatting incidents occurred in 2017 when Tyler Barriss of Los Angeles reported a man in Kansas to the police.
According to NBC News, at the time he claimed to have just shot his father dead and to be holding the rest of the family hostage.
Police arrived at Andrew Finch’s house immediately after that. When he first came outside, the 28-year-old repeatedly raised and lowered his hands, which caused an officer to open fire and kill him.
As a result, Barriss was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to 51 charges, including one count of making a false report resulting in a death, according to NBC News.
“We hope that this will send a strong message about swatting, which is a juvenile and senseless practice,” US Attorney Stephen McAllister said at the time.
“We’d like to put an end to it within the gaming community and any other context. Swatting, as I’ve said before, is not a prank.”
The Netflix documentary series Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies, and the Internet, which premiered in 2022, later featured Barriss’ narrative.
How to keep safe from swatting?
Anyone might be swatted, but gamers are more vulnerable because the raid can be viewed live and in real-time if it’s called in at the appropriate moment.
Streamers can, however, take certain steps to avoid it from happening to them.
Using a PO Box to prevent the dissemination of personal information is one of the greatest methods to protect yourself from swatting, claims Business Insider.
Installing software on your computer that assists in preventing unauthorized access to your IP address is also advised.
According to Insider, some local police agencies have even started compiling a list of prospective swatting targets so they will know to confirm before acting if they receive a call.
Swatting is extremely against Twitch’s community guidelines and many users are aware of the situation in light of past incidents. If you’re not clear about other Twitch terms and want to get on track, make sure to check out the articles below where we explained the latest incidents and terms. While following a platform like Twitch, it’s crucial to keep yourself up to date.
