On 8/12/26 Twitch announced that it had automatically opted all of its user accounts into using all content from their channels for training Amazon's generative “AI” models. I checked my settings and confirmed that I had indeed been opted in without my knowledge or consent.

They didn't send us an email or notify us within Twitch. They posted about it on X, a platform I don't use, acting like they were doing us a favor by allowing us to opt out. Furthermore, they made it opt-out knowing most of us are skeptical about “AI” and would never opt in – and they don't care.

This is a gross violation of privacy and betrayal of trust. Therefore, because they clearly do not respect their users, I am quitting Twitch both as a streamer and viewer.

I have had some genuinely wonderful experiences on Twitch connecting with people and sharing a love of music. But those precious human experiences are being exploited, monetized, and manipulated by the likes of Twitch and Amazon and I just can't be a part of that anymore.

At some point, we have to stop merely declaring that what these Big Tech companies are doing is wrong, and we have to take action. The only action we can really take as individuals: boycott.

I will be streaming on PeerTube in the near term and hopefully will transition to Owncast soon. See my profile page for links.

arstechnica.com/ai/2026/08/twi…

windowscentral.com/artificial-…

404media.co/twitch-training-am…

#twitch #AI #amazon #peerTube #Owncast #bigTech #tech