Twitch CEO Dan Clancy downplays radicalisation concerns before US congressional hearing

Twitch CEO Dan Clancy says he is not worried about claims of user radicalisation ahead of a US congressional hearing

Twitch CEO Dan Clancy has stated that he is not concerned about the upcoming congressional hearing on online radicalisation, saying the streaming platform is unlikely to face issues before the committee.

In September 2025, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer invited the CEOs of Twitch, Reddit, Discord, and Steam to testify in a full committee hearing. The session, originally set for October 8, was postponed due to the US government shutdown, and no new date has been confirmed.

The Committee said the hearing aims to “examine the radicalisation of online forum users, including instances of open incitement to commit politically motivated acts.” Comer added that the move followed online reactions to the assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk, stating that Congress “has a duty to oversee the online platforms that radicals have used to advance political violence.”

Speaking with journalist Taylor Lorenz at TwitchCon 2025, Clancy said there was “no connection” between Twitch and the incident involving Kirk. “It’s proximity. To me, I’m not that worried about it… we do not have this problem of radicalisation on Twitch,” he said. Clancy argued that Twitch, being a public platform, differs from private group-based sites such as Discord.

His comments prompted mixed responses from users online, especially after several controversies at TwitchCon 2025. Despite ongoing criticism, Clancy maintained confidence that Congress would recognise Twitch’s distinct role in the online ecosystem.