Anti-Porn Lobby Censors Video Games via Payment Processors: Big Tech Policy Shift
The report that an 'anti-porn lobby' can influence 'payment processors' to censor 'thousands of video games' reveals a critical and potentially escalating trend in content moderation and digital rights. This signifies a major shift in the established norm of content accessibility, demonstrating how powerful third-party intermediaries (like payment processors) can become de-facto censors. For game developers, independent content creators, and digital platforms, this poses a significant business risk and calls for urgent attention to alternative payment solutions, decentralized distribution models, and robust legal advocacy. Companies specializing in blockchain-based payments, legal tech for content creators, and digital rights organizations could find significant opportunities to provide solutions and support in this evolving landscape of digital censorship and control.
Origin Reddit Post
r/technology
How an anti-porn lobby on payment processors censored thousands of video games
Posted by u/rezwenn•08/01/2025
Top Comments
u/amwes549
They'll go after the exchanges then. These "activists" won't stop.
u/KrimxonRath
They should be dropped for companies with balls then.
u/MasterChildhood437
It's been back for at least fourteen years. It's just finally moved off social media and is starting to have real ramifications.
u/d0ctorzaius
So now I can't buy Nestle products with a credit card??
u/ChemicalExample218
I only watch porn for the news . . .
u/EzeHarris
This is good stuff. Let’s all just think about what we should’ve done two decades ago, and focus on it.
u/_aware
Maybe he watches for the plot
u/Dwarfdeaths
Nano, but yeah.
u/Acceptable-Surprise5
I was already advocating the same sentiment about it in the situation 5 years ago as well it's a gross overstep of payment processors.
u/ResilientBiscuit
So is it payment processors or payment networks? Because there are lots of payment processors that do handle adult transactions. Steam or Itch could switch to one of those, but they have high
u/owningxylophone
This has been happening for decades. Where was this righteous indignation when it wasn’t video games? You’re a decade too late to this argument.
u/owningxylophone
The best time was 2010, the second best time is now.
Just poking some fun as your point applies to almost everyone getting on this thread. What we’re seeing now is the exact reason for the
u/TamotsuKun
This. One of the big voices behind this videogame censorship is a batshit crazy far right feminist group. They don't care about anything other than their own twisted worldview
u/CaptainKrakrak
It is about liability. I work in this field and they want to be squeakily clean to avoid any class action or additional regulation. They don’t care about any morals or standards, it’s 100% dr
u/EzeHarris
It’s one of those things, where it’s easy to say,
‘who cares about bukkake incest?’
And you’d be right to not die on that hill, but what we should die on is why should a private company h
u/Acceptable-Surprise5
I was already advocating the same sentiment about it in the situation 5 years ago as well it's a gross overstep of payment processors.
u/lasair7
This isn't true. This move is about power and using the principal of standard practice to consolidate more power.
u/KrimxonRath
They should be dropped for companies with balls then.
u/Dwn_Wth_Vwls
Seems like these video games company need to start accepting crypto then.
u/iVar4sale
Aren't Sims pixelated when they're nude?
u/Ja3k_Frost
That doesn’t make any sense, payment processors like visa and Mastercard hold between them 87% market share *worldwide*. They process trillions of transactions across many different jurisdict
u/ansibleloop
Not when you have mods
u/Idzuna
Actually ironic considering [the reason E-Commerce came about was to pay for porn](https://www.businessinsider.com/the-producer-of-middle-men-talks-to-us-about-how-pornographers-invented-e-co
u/Illustrious-Neat5123
Dont you understand ? It is to PROTECT THE CHILDREN !
now gather all your personnal infos and biometric details
FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHILDREN !
/s
u/MarinatedPickachu
The problem is that there's a lot of legal uncertainty surrounding porn and payment processors can be held liable if they process transactions for illegal activities - so they err on the safe
u/dairydm
The Sims fans aren’t going to put up with this when they try it with EA.
u/IncorrectAddress
Excellent, we need to distinguish between what's directly targeted pornographic products (specifically used to manipulate people) and adult rated products.
u/Ja3k_Frost
That doesn’t make any sense, payment processors like visa and Mastercard hold between them 87% market share *worldwide*. They process trillions of transactions across many different jurisdict
u/MarinatedPickachu
Payment processors are civilly liable in the US since the early 2000s.
u/Jawnwood
Yes, but a game about prostitution ≠ real life prostitution.
u/TamotsuKun
This. One of the big voices behind this videogame censorship is a batshit crazy far right feminist group. They don't care about anything other than their own twisted worldview
u/Drone314
The money changers are back, and now they want revenge.
u/ChemicalExample218
I only watch porn for the news . . .
u/das_ultimative_schaf
Did the collective ever check on Twitter/X? Or are they afraid of Elmo...
u/EzeHarris
This is good stuff. Let’s all just think about what we should’ve done two decades ago, and focus on it.
u/iVar4sale
Well, if they're gonna ban games with nude mods, then there won't be any games left on Steam
u/_aware
Maybe he watches for the plot
u/iVar4sale
Aren't Sims pixelated when they're nude?
u/_aware
Maybe he watches for the plot
u/grantnaps
I don't really understand this whole thing. What don't they want to be liable for?
u/EnoughDatabase5382
I'm against low-quality porn that's just for masturbation, but what Collective Shout does is just awful. They use the same tactics as the porn lovers they're targeting, like email bombing and
u/ansibleloop
Not when you have mods
u/das_ultimative_schaf
Did the collective ever check on Twitter/X? Or are they afraid of Elmo...
u/das_ultimative_schaf
Did the collective ever check on Twitter/X? Or are they afraid of Elmo...
u/lordpoee
Fuck them puritanical assholes
u/Thund3rF000t
Easy valve and all other online stores accept crypto done now credit card companies can piss off and nothing these bullshit groups can do
u/EzeHarris
It’s one of those things, where it’s easy to say,
‘who cares about bukkake incest?’
And you’d be right to not die on that hill, but what we should die on is why should a private company h
u/ResilientBiscuit
So is it payment processors or payment networks? Because there are lots of payment processors that do handle adult transactions. Steam or Itch could switch to one of those, but they have high
u/vorg7
What else would porn be for? Do you want it to have artistic value? Inform you on world events?
u/dairydm
The Sims fans aren’t going to put up with this when they try it with EA.
u/Jawnwood
Yes, but a game about prostitution ≠ real life prostitution.
u/JFSOCC
like blocking payments to wikileaks?
u/catwiesel
make no mistake. anti-porn is always the beginning, and never the end.
yesterday its was "some sick phantasy stuff", today its "the normal stuff" and tomorrow its the wrong ideology.
there
u/MasterChildhood437
It's been back for at least fourteen years. It's just finally moved off social media and is starting to have real ramifications.
u/_aware
They aren't even feminists. They label themselves as such to make people think they are purple haired raging liberals and a lot of people fall for that. These people are right wing Christian
u/Ja3k_Frost
I think what’s going on here is a kind of business-politik where the payment processors looked at the size of the market for these games, information they surely have access too, and decided
u/EzeHarris
This is good stuff. Let’s all just think about what we should’ve done two decades ago, and focus on it.
u/CaptainKrakrak
Anything that could be viewed as illegal, immoral, dubious, etc
For example we refused any request to have payment terminals from strip clubs, cigar lounges, pawn shops, casinos, massage par
u/NathanCollier14
In 6-12 months, there will be a news story about the leader of this anti-porn lobby being the biggest gooner the world has ever seen.
u/CaptainKrakrak
Anything that could be viewed as illegal, immoral, dubious, etc
For example we refused any request to have payment terminals from strip clubs, cigar lounges, pawn shops, casinos, massage par
u/ResilientBiscuit
Visa and MasterCard are not payment processors. They are payment networks. They do t have agreements with Steam, they payment processors like Stripe do.
My understanding is that it is the p
u/MidsouthMystic
Get loud, get angry, and tell them this is not acceptable.
u/MarinatedPickachu
It's funny how you get downvoted simply because people don't like it. But it's exactly how it is.
u/Wollff
Time for Bitcoin!
u/lordpoee
Fuck them puritanical assholes
u/owningxylophone
This has been happening for decades. Where was this righteous indignation when it wasn’t video games? You’re a decade too late to this argument.
u/Acceptable-Surprise5
I was already advocating the same sentiment about it in the situation 5 years ago as well it's a gross overstep of payment processors.
u/badger906
Governments around the world need to control them! A payment processor should not be able to control what people buy or choose to buy if it fits within the law
u/IAMA_Plumber-AMA
It never went anywhere, it was just biding its time.
u/owningxylophone
First they came for the adult content creators (like 15+ years ago), but I did not speak out as I was not an adult content creator.
Then they came for the video games…
u/CaptainKrakrak
It is about liability. I work in this field and they want to be squeakily clean to avoid any class action or additional regulation. They don’t care about any morals or standards, it’s 100% dr
u/catwiesel
make no mistake. anti-porn is always the beginning, and never the end.
yesterday its was "some sick phantasy stuff", today its "the normal stuff" and tomorrow its the wrong ideology.
there
u/lordpoee
Fuck them puritanical assholes
u/ResilientBiscuit
So is it payment processors or payment networks? Because there are lots of payment processors that do handle adult transactions. Steam or Itch could switch to one of those, but they have high
u/grantnaps
I don't really understand this whole thing. What don't they want to be liable for?
u/lasair7
This isn't true. This move is about power and using the principal of standard practice to consolidate more power.
u/raptorlightning
Visa and MC could just agree to threaten whatever country wants to press charges that they will quit serving. The threat of crashing their economy should be good enough to make them back down
u/iVar4sale
Well, if they're gonna ban games with nude mods, then there won't be any games left on Steam
u/CaptainKrakrak
Anything that could be viewed as illegal, immoral, dubious, etc
For example we refused any request to have payment terminals from strip clubs, cigar lounges, pawn shops, casinos, massage par
u/owningxylophone
First they came for the adult content creators (like 15+ years ago), but I did not speak out as I was not an adult content creator.
Then they came for the video games…
u/_aware
They aren't even feminists. They label themselves as such to make people think they are purple haired raging liberals and a lot of people fall for that. These people are right wing Christian
u/KrimxonRath
They should be dropped for companies with balls then.
u/lasair7
This isn't true. This move is about power and using the principal of standard practice to consolidate more power.
u/TamotsuKun
This. One of the big voices behind this videogame censorship is a batshit crazy far right feminist group. They don't care about anything other than their own twisted worldview
u/IAMA_Plumber-AMA
It never went anywhere, it was just biding its time.
u/NathanCollier14
In 6-12 months, there will be a news story about the leader of this anti-porn lobby being the biggest gooner the world has ever seen.
u/Mental_Taxation
Seems the satanic panic is back…
u/owningxylophone
The best time was 2010, the second best time is now.
Just poking some fun as your point applies to almost everyone getting on this thread. What we’re seeing now is the exact reason for the
u/raptorlightning
Visa and MC could just agree to threaten whatever country wants to press charges that they will quit serving. The threat of crashing their economy should be good enough to make them back down
u/Dwn_Wth_Vwls
Seems like these video games company need to start accepting crypto then.
u/Ja3k_Frost
That doesn’t make any sense, payment processors like visa and Mastercard hold between them 87% market share *worldwide*. They process trillions of transactions across many different jurisdict
u/MC_Gengar
The company spear heading this raised millions of Australian dollars for the legal defense of an actual sex trafficker. As always with these types of groups they're projecting and admitting g
u/blk_phllp
It's not about liability. The cc processors have been trying to drive nsfw content off the Internet for at least a decade.
They've just finally made videogames their pet project. Just wait u
u/onlyPornstuffs
Yay, evangelicals making the country suck, as always.
u/Massive_Town_8212
Yeah that's the thing. The games getting banned may have controversial content, but it's not like I can buy a "game" off Steam that's actually just real CSAM that exploited real people. Even
u/louisa1925
Sounds like these payment processors need to be exised from the money game. It isn't their job to decide what is appropriate to play. It is their job to transfer money, only.
u/Drone314
The money changers are back, and now they want revenge.
u/Dwarfdeaths
Nano, but yeah.
u/Thund3rF000t
Easy valve and all other online stores accept crypto done now credit card companies can piss off and nothing these bullshit groups can do
u/vorg7
What else would porn be for? Do you want it to have artistic value? Inform you on world events?
u/_CozyLavender_
Yup. There's a fine line between pornography and prostitution (or, God forbid, trafficking) and they can be subjected to heavy fines for facilitating the latter.
This has been an issue in t
u/d0ctorzaius
So now I can't buy Nestle products with a credit card??
u/onlyPornstuffs
Yay, evangelicals making the country suck, as always.
u/Illustrious-Neat5123
Dont you understand ? It is to PROTECT THE CHILDREN !
now gather all your personnal infos and biometric details
FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHILDREN !
/s
u/badger906
Governments around the world need to control them! A payment processor should not be able to control what people buy or choose to buy if it fits within the law
u/grantnaps
I don't really understand this whole thing. What don't they want to be liable for?
u/owningxylophone
The best time was 2010, the second best time is now.
Just poking some fun as your point applies to almost everyone getting on this thread. What we’re seeing now is the exact reason for the
u/EzeHarris
It’s one of those things, where it’s easy to say,
‘who cares about bukkake incest?’
And you’d be right to not die on that hill, but what we should die on is why should a private company h
u/MarinatedPickachu
It's funny how you get downvoted simply because people don't like it. But it's exactly how it is.
u/owningxylophone
This has been happening for decades. Where was this righteous indignation when it wasn’t video games? You’re a decade too late to this argument.
u/NathanCollier14
In 6-12 months, there will be a news story about the leader of this anti-porn lobby being the biggest gooner the world has ever seen.
u/MC_Gengar
The company spear heading this raised millions of Australian dollars for the legal defense of an actual sex trafficker. As always with these types of groups they're projecting and admitting g
u/Mental_Taxation
Seems the satanic panic is back…
u/ChemicalExample218
I only watch porn for the news . . .
u/Mental_Taxation
Seems the satanic panic is back…
u/IAMA_Plumber-AMA
It never went anywhere, it was just biding its time.
u/MarinatedPickachu
The problem is that there's a lot of legal uncertainty surrounding porn and payment processors can be held liable if they process transactions for illegal activities - so they err on the safe
u/louisa1925
Sounds like these payment processors need to be exised from the money game. It isn't their job to decide what is appropriate to play. It is their job to transfer money, only.
u/_aware
They aren't even feminists. They label themselves as such to make people think they are purple haired raging liberals and a lot of people fall for that. These people are right wing Christian
u/onlyPornstuffs
Yay, evangelicals making the country suck, as always.
u/Massive_Town_8212
Yeah that's the thing. The games getting banned may have controversial content, but it's not like I can buy a "game" off Steam that's actually just real CSAM that exploited real people. Even
u/grantnaps
Thank you. Would be nice if they went further and refused payment for any product produced through child labor.
u/iVar4sale
Well, if they're gonna ban games with nude mods, then there won't be any games left on Steam
u/EnoughDatabase5382
I'm against low-quality porn that's just for masturbation, but what Collective Shout does is just awful. They use the same tactics as the porn lovers they're targeting, like email bombing and
u/grantnaps
Thank you. Would be nice if they went further and refused payment for any product produced through child labor.
u/grantnaps
Thank you. Would be nice if they went further and refused payment for any product produced through child labor.
u/Drone314
The money changers are back, and now they want revenge.
u/amwes549
They'll go after the exchanges then. These "activists" won't stop.
u/MidsouthMystic
Get loud, get angry, and tell them this is not acceptable.
u/catwiesel
make no mistake. anti-porn is always the beginning, and never the end.
yesterday its was "some sick phantasy stuff", today its "the normal stuff" and tomorrow its the wrong ideology.
there
u/blk_phllp
Then why do they always pressure for exactly what Christian Nationalists want and follow it up with funding the lobbying of congress (by typically the same groups that 'lean' on them) for mor
u/MarinatedPickachu
Payment processors are civilly liable in the US since the early 2000s.
u/vorg7
What else would porn be for? Do you want it to have artistic value? Inform you on world events?
u/owningxylophone
First they came for the adult content creators (like 15+ years ago), but I did not speak out as I was not an adult content creator.
Then they came for the video games…
u/badger906
Governments around the world need to control them! A payment processor should not be able to control what people buy or choose to buy if it fits within the law
u/dairydm
The Sims fans aren’t going to put up with this when they try it with EA.
u/blk_phllp
It's not about liability. The cc processors have been trying to drive nsfw content off the Internet for at least a decade.
They've just finally made videogames their pet project. Just wait u
u/ansibleloop
Not when you have mods
u/Ja3k_Frost
I think what’s going on here is a kind of business-politik where the payment processors looked at the size of the market for these games, information they surely have access too, and decided
u/blk_phllp
Then why do they always pressure for exactly what Christian Nationalists want and follow it up with funding the lobbying of congress (by typically the same groups that 'lean' on them) for mor
u/Massive_Town_8212
Yeah that's the thing. The games getting banned may have controversial content, but it's not like I can buy a "game" off Steam that's actually just real CSAM that exploited real people. Even
u/MarinatedPickachu
The problem is that there's a lot of legal uncertainty surrounding porn and payment processors can be held liable if they process transactions for illegal activities - so they err on the safe
u/MidsouthMystic
Get loud, get angry, and tell them this is not acceptable.
u/CaptainKrakrak
It is about liability. I work in this field and they want to be squeakily clean to avoid any class action or additional regulation. They don’t care about any morals or standards, it’s 100% dr
u/Idzuna
Actually ironic considering [the reason E-Commerce came about was to pay for porn](https://www.businessinsider.com/the-producer-of-middle-men-talks-to-us-about-how-pornographers-invented-e-co
u/MasterChildhood437
It's been back for at least fourteen years. It's just finally moved off social media and is starting to have real ramifications.
u/Dwarfdeaths
Nano, but yeah.
u/Wollff
Time for Bitcoin!
u/blk_phllp
Then why do they always pressure for exactly what Christian Nationalists want and follow it up with funding the lobbying of congress (by typically the same groups that 'lean' on them) for mor
u/Wollff
Time for Bitcoin!
u/Idzuna
Actually ironic considering [the reason E-Commerce came about was to pay for porn](https://www.businessinsider.com/the-producer-of-middle-men-talks-to-us-about-how-pornographers-invented-e-co
u/louisa1925
Sounds like these payment processors need to be exised from the money game. It isn't their job to decide what is appropriate to play. It is their job to transfer money, only.
u/Dwn_Wth_Vwls
Seems like these video games company need to start accepting crypto then.
u/ResilientBiscuit
Visa and MasterCard are not payment processors. They are payment networks. They do t have agreements with Steam, they payment processors like Stripe do.
My understanding is that it is the p
u/EnoughDatabase5382
I'm against low-quality porn that's just for masturbation, but what Collective Shout does is just awful. They use the same tactics as the porn lovers they're targeting, like email bombing and
u/JFSOCC
like blocking payments to wikileaks?
u/Jawnwood
Yes, but a game about prostitution ≠ real life prostitution.
u/ResilientBiscuit
Visa and MasterCard are not payment processors. They are payment networks. They do t have agreements with Steam, they payment processors like Stripe do.
My understanding is that it is the p
u/amwes549
They'll go after the exchanges then. These "activists" won't stop.
u/Ja3k_Frost
I think what’s going on here is a kind of business-politik where the payment processors looked at the size of the market for these games, information they surely have access too, and decided
u/blk_phllp
It's not about liability. The cc processors have been trying to drive nsfw content off the Internet for at least a decade.
They've just finally made videogames their pet project. Just wait u
u/Illustrious-Neat5123
Dont you understand ? It is to PROTECT THE CHILDREN !
now gather all your personnal infos and biometric details
FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHILDREN !
/s
u/IncorrectAddress
Excellent, we need to distinguish between what's directly targeted pornographic products (specifically used to manipulate people) and adult rated products.
u/iVar4sale
Aren't Sims pixelated when they're nude?
u/MC_Gengar
The company spear heading this raised millions of Australian dollars for the legal defense of an actual sex trafficker. As always with these types of groups they're projecting and admitting g