Kick unwanted users/bots from Channel COMPLETELY!
Dear Twitch,
We are now dealing with a new threat of bot accounts. These accounts sit lurking in channel, possibly logging info of either streamers or chatters. They may be using this info for giveaway sniping, or possible future bot attacks, including viewer bots, follower bots, and even spam bots. They sit there and do nothing, they follow us to other streams we host/raid. We ban them, not like they ever say anything, but to prevent them from spreading, we need a way to KICK THEM OFF THE CHANNEL.
Recently had a run in with "Opentwitchbot" whom acknowledges that they are running a bot in other's channels, but never requested permission to do so, instead, they want us to run THEIR command in our channels to make them leave, which isn't possible on our bots, because our bots are not design for that command, nor is it a Twitch command. I don't know what their command is doing, and I certainly don't trust it. When confronting them on the fact that their bot is breaking ToS, they reported me for reporting them. I requested and stated to them several times, their bot is not welcomed in my channel, and they refused to remove themselves until the end of my stream, waiting for me to host someone and latch on to them, thus spreading.
We've all been noticing another set of bots possibly working together, Faegwent ThisIsMyDevAccount and chatdb, they never speak, but they have hundreds if not thousands of followers, they never broadcast, etc etc, what are they doing sitting in our chat? sending info to these followers? that's against ToS. We the broadcasters need an option to kick them from the page, doesn't have to be permanent, they might have an option to hop back on, but I think we should have some sort of captcha security so they can PROVE they are human, and not a bot when rejoining the page!
Banning doesn't do enough if they can still read the chat and gather the info. Reporting seems to do nothing for the past 2 months of reporting them, from MULTIPLE witnesses/reporters. It's about time we have some control over the unwelcome bot accounts.
Help us help you lessen the load!
Sincerely,
A Hard Working Broadcaster, just trying to stop the spread of unwanted guests.
Nekomancer_Evei
shared this idea
Hi, I know that this is a very late response, but we’re hoping to find time to address this issue later this year. There are a few steps we’ll have to take to solve this problem in a way that will work for all streamers, but we understand the severity of the issue.
-
Martith
commented
Just over a year later and no word on anything regarding the rampant usage of bots to self advertise and otherwise be pests? Fleas don't do much harm in small numbers. If left unchecked they multiply and become a very serious problem. Bots are no different.
Even if you changed the bot TOS to require the author to state a clear purpose of the bot and (again, stating CLEARLY) a no-gimik way to remove the bot (i.e. locking it behind a "follower only" chat for example) would prove sufficient.
The aforementioned change requires no coding, does not hurt the benign bots (which already follow those general guidelines - minus the follower-only chat for a few), and will make us (for the most part) happy as we can remove the bot from our IRC completely.
Twitch claims they want what is best for the community. The bots are a festering problem and -not- best for the community.
-
mobooshka
commented
I'm still waiting...
-
wasabekitty
commented
Please do something ive been boted 7,000 followers 😭
-
Ixitxachitl
commented
Welcome to 2020
-
Dragontech
commented
To my understanding the chat is a separate entity from Twitch it self, it is old school IRC chat. It's kinda like dealing with open source, no one can really controls it. This chat has been in place since the old Justin.tv days and been no upgrades really to it since. They would have to build something from the ground up and replace it for us to have that kind of control. I hope it happens soon it would be nice.
-
MrEMeatshield
commented
TL/DR: If a streamer doesn't want a user on their channel / watching their stream, there should be a way to completely remove them from it. Banning only stops them from talking, but they're still able to remain in the channel. A kick function would be a welcome addition.
People have to remember. Whether the bots are doing anything against ToS is irrelevant. If someone doesn't want them or any user on their channel, there should be a way to remove said bot / user and prevent them from coming back / view the stream.
With some sort of Kick function, the people who aren't bothered by these bots can keep ignoring and have said bots stay on their streams. While those who don't want them have an option to remove them. Not all of these bots have some sort of "Type this phrase to make me leave" method.
Not to mention the kick function can also be used to remove actual users that the streamer doesn't want around at all.
-
ogAtIas
commented
As a Developer who creates bots. I read the Developer ToS and I don't see it stating that it's not allowed to join channels automatically.
Most of them just lurk to gather info, like CommanderRoot provides changelogs, no harm done. If you do gain an extra viewer, why is that bad? You get a higher spot on the Browse list.
-
Toshiyena
commented
Ey Twitch. Still waiting for this to happen. Some bots go away after you do something. but some like AnotherTTVViewer don't have any info on them or a way to kick them. PLEASE DO SOMETHING THIS YEAR!
-
fr_dae
commented
For the blacklist
anotherttvviewer
gza_
jtv
energyzbot
mshali
twitchnotify
lurxx
slocool
Apricotdrupefruit
teyd__ -
Sonny5avage
commented
get rid of Vivbot off my Channel and everyone elses !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
LadyKurai
commented
Any news on this?
"Later this year" is starting to approach it's deadline and I keep finding new bots.
Why can't you just make it so a ban means they can't join the channel or view your content anymore..? -
MultiMoo
commented
User "Zanekyber" has a bot that sits in your chat and in order to OPT OT of his bot, you have to go to their channel and write " PunOko " BUT...
The channel is in Follower's Only mode. Seriously. Blocked them instead.
-
roots_rat
commented
Dear Twitch, please sort this out as soon as possible. This is really annoying.
-
thetruenoob0
commented
Somehow managed to get rid of them a month ago and now they are all back. I dont care if they are just sat in my viewer list i just want the **** things gone. I dont know what they are doing in there watching me stream to a couple of my buddies. when going onto the bots stream its all Follow for Follow in their chats. i dont want no followers through that so why the **** are they on my stream.
-
catfishsushi
commented
Earlier this year, I watched the Dr. Who saga replay on "Twitch Presents", and it took a min for the twitch Devs to realise they were being trolled by bots doing the "Watch-Bots" and radically inflating the viewer count. the "Food Channel" was so corrupted, it had to be moved.
The trend I'm seeing all across the Internet, is the Trolling of corporate entities, Twitch and many others, by Bot Abusers. One solution, is to use the services of the Distil Network, which often has to fight with Bots in real time, their Heuristics program can Limit, Block, and censor any bot made, and have fingerprinted over a million.Also, mandating a removal phrase be posted plainly on the bots profile, and kept short, would be a great add-on to the Twitch TOS rules and regulations about/regarding Bots. And, a short statement as to the Purpose of the Bot, what it does, and Twitch having an accurate location of any Data it collects/stores/sells.
Please continue to do great things for the users of Twitch, as we are proud to stream on this Site. :)
-
DJAutumnGaming
commented
if this could be solved that would be fantastic...if I ban someone from my channel it should completely ban them from the channel not just mute them. it should be the streamers choice not to have people (or bots) in their channel at all and the fact we can't remove them is an issue. I mean I've had a stalker on my streams that just wouldn't leave and twitch gives me no option but to deal with them...that's not right or fair to those that stream.
-
JaielSoft
commented
Leave CommanderRoot on your channels pls it is a way to keep track of user name changes and is very useful at some times. We are using it on a channel to keep track of users who changed their name and lost all their points in StreamElements Bot. Its a really nice tool and does no harm other than sit in your channels IRC. Doesnt add to the viewership either and besides that they could just flag themselves as Anon and so wont even appear in chat list whilst still being there so... I dont see the problem really when you talk about actually useful bots like as said CommanderRoot
-
Nekomancer_Evei
commented
Just now added anotherttvviewer and communityshowcase to my ban list (apparently I banned annotherttvviewer the day they created their account Jan. 3rd 2019), but for some reason, they won't leave, FINALLY gotten commanderroot to leave but right after, comminityshowcase showed right up in his place and for some reason, commanderroot uses the exact same as cachebear just replace their names in the same sentence as "I know just being in chat doesn't count as a view or viewer. I also know that someone can be in chat without being logged in. That being said, I however still would like to ask you, cachebear, to leave. Thank you!" I mean, come on Twitch!
-
Nekomancer_Evei
commented
Just updating and reiterating the contexts of previous posts so people don't need to go through 5+ pages of comments.
This ability to remove unwanted users from out channels is not just for bots, but also people who deal with stalkers and harassers and what not. It would make life MUCH simpler for everyone, the creator, the chatters, the viewers, the twitch staff, EVERYONE. If we as creators and moderators have an option to not just ban people from chatting or viewing chat logs, but legit kicking them off the page and requiring a captcha key to re-enter, and an automated ability to report said person to twitch for possible botting, harassment, and other reporting abilities. if it was all done in one fell swoop in one click of a button and giving timestamp and evidence from there, Twitch can look into reports on the spot and find related reports of said user to back up probable claims on a variety of streams.
Right now, I currently just had these four KNOWN botters in my channel since streaming last night.
cachebear (admits to being a bot, can remove from your channel with this message on THEIR channel: I know just being in chat doesn't count as a view or viewer. I also know that someone can be in chat without being logged in. That being said, I however still would like to ask you, cachebear, to leave. Thank you!)
Lurxx (admits to being a bot, can remove from your channel with this message on YOUR channel: Lurxx please leave my channel)
p0lizei (is a Russian botter, no way to remove, no videos, I banned them October 8th, 2018, they've been around since October 2nd, 2018..., with 3000+ followers? come on!)
Slocool (known botter, and been known at least since Shufunk commented June 25th, 2018!)
commanderroot (is a KNOWN BOTTER, AND TWITCH PARTNER A VERY BIG "********" AND SLAP IN THE FACE OF ALL WHO'S BEEN TRYING TO REMOVE THESE BOTS! and yet, so many have stated they have talked to him one on one and gotten help, but it's still unauthorized botting on other's streams and against ToS in twitch! For ***** sakes!)
Yes, we are outraged and upset because we've been reporting this stuff FOR ******* YEARS! and nothing gets done! We have a right to be ******! so being told that you'll take care of it later when it should be one of the first easily coded things since justin.tv is RIDICULOUS!
-
Im_a_delirious_wolf
commented
this needs to be dealt with now, not next year forget about updating the site adding new **** extra the sight works.............. fix a problem that's ongoing and a threat to your user's data. as a caster, we have no control and every time we go live and have them bots sitting in are channels we are not only putting areselfs at risk of having our data leached but are communities data leached aswell. from the comment you have posted it seems like you have no priority to deal with this issue. you say "we understand the severity of the issue." but it doesn't seem like you do. it's just another thing for the back burner. and its not like this is a new issue its been going on for a while now. twitch is meant to be a safe site but there's a big threat of your data being collected by a bot and leached. blocking the bots from chatting don't do anything..... to protect anyone
a very conserved caster and long time user of twitch