Bigo Live is a global social live streaming platform owned by BIGO Technology based in Singapore,[1][2] which was founded in 2014 by David Li and Jason Hu. As of 2019, Bigo Technology is owned by JOYY.[3][4]
Viewers are able to support their favorite broadcasters with in-app gifts,[5] and some popular broadcasters use the app as a full-time employment.[citation needed] Bigo owns Likee, the short video creation and sharing app.[6][7]
History
David Li was a journalist prior to entering the technology industry, and Jason Hu had worked for many technology companies before the creation of Bigo Technology. In 2014, Bigo was founded in Singapore.[citation needed] In March 2019, Bigo was acquired by JOYY Inc.[8]
In November 2019, monthly active users of the company's apps reached over 350 million globally.[9] In July 2020, Pakistan temporarily banned Bigo, and warned TikTok and YouTube over immoral, obscene, and vulgar content. The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority expressed concerns about the potential negative impact on society, particularly on youth.[10] The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority announced the lifting of the ban on 30 July 2020 following discussions and reassurances regarding content regulation.[11]
On 13 June 2021, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Bangladesh Police arrested five people, including Bigo's Operation Manager, a Chinese national, in connection with allegations of money laundering and blackmail. They were charged under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Digital Security Act and Pornography Prevention Act.[13] Bigo has been actively cooperating with local authorities to address and resolve these issues, reaffirming its commitment to compliance and community standards.
On 8 December 2024, the New York Times published a report on the use of live streaming apps "downloaded from Apple and Google" for paid sexual exploitation of children, including Bigo Live. In a statement to the Times, the company said it had taken "appropriate action" on the cases mentioned in the Times article, "including account suspension and content removal". Bigo said it was "deeply committed to protecting user safety".[14]
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