https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/jul/29/why-did-adult-titles-disappear-from-steam-itch-pc-gaming-payment-processors



So what's my fellow enlightened jspers thoughts on this subject of censorship? Should payment processors like Visa or MasterCard get to decide what kind of content you're allowed to purchase? Should books that offend the sensibilities of activist groups likewise be censored?

Payment Processors should not have this right or ability. If there is a governing body, let them do it, but payment processors should stay in their own lane.

what happened to "its a private company they can do what ever they want"

I for one support the abolishment of Steam smut. This crap has undoubtedly contributed to the male transgender crisis and abuse of children

Civil society needs borders, this stuff is vile and paedophilic and debases the very fabric of civilization

This post was edited by El1te on Jul 30 2025 07:39am

I agree in principle, however there is a precedent. Payment processors have long denied other stuff nowhere near as vile as open paedophilia

One of the issues in my country (Ireland) is that the President is not allowed to weigh in on political affairs - he must remain neutral. This is to safe guard the state from any future leader with ill intentions. In this regard the Government is regularly attacked by the opposition and the people for not doing enough when it comes to Israel's treatment of the Palestinians. The President, Michael D Higgins, has been agitated on occasion to speak up. This has resulted in him being repeatedly berated by the government for overstepping his authority.

There are two issues here.

1. That the Government is not doing enough.
2. That the Governments inaction is leading the President to overstep his position in protest.

Ideally the Government would take a strong position but that is unlikely in the climate we are in, ergo the President feels forced to speak for those that cant.

So, with that said, If Steam is a private company doing what most parents would regard as selling questionable content, and if it refuses to adequately moderate itself properly, then if a 3rd party, in this case the Payment Processors have successfully...presided, over the issue, fine..? HOWEVER this is the slippery slope, noting no single body should have this power and what else will they do now that they have tasted power.

This post was edited by ferdia on Jul 30 2025 08:00am

I was not even aware of such things on Steam gamer, how interesting.

Ultimately, unless government law prevents, companies should be able to make their own choices, except, the issue is now, the government has failed terribly and allowed such consolidation that then you have only several companies making these choices, offering little in diversity of options. And that clouds the decisiveness of my opinion on this.

Remember PayPal

PayPal received in late 2022 for a revised Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) that included a $2,500 fine for users who violated the policy, particularly for spreading misinformation. This policy sparked widespread criticism and concerns about free speech, leading PayPal to quickly backtrack and claim the policy was an error.

This post was edited by SBD on Jul 30 2025 08:04am

Lol what?

Link me a single game containing child sexual abuse on steam or itch.io. They dont exist as it breaks their terms of service.

Just more fear mongering and hate slinging because what else do these companies have to do with thier time other than get thier ceos killed.

Incompetence is abdicated authority, and someone else will step in to fill that void. Really this is Steam's fault (probably Newell himself, he clearly has a penchant for this paedophilic stuff) for allowing this in the first place.

yes a good comment.