Indie game platform Itch.io has released a statement explaining their decision to “deindex” dozens if not hundreds of games in order to comply with payment processor demands. Some users have even reported that offending games have been stolen from their libraries.
In a blog post, Itch names feminist group Collective Shout as one of the driving factors for enhanced scrutiny from payment processors. The same group led to Steam also altering their rules to forbid content payment processors may find offensive.
Over the past few years, payment processors have been censoring websites which host user-generated content. They accomplish this by threatening to refuse to do business with them, despite the content not being illegal in the United States and many other countries. Instead they’re exercising an editorial decision to mandate what content platforms will permit.
Sites such as Patreon, Fansly, Pixiv, and DLSite have all been targeted by these attacks from payment processors. Earlier this week we shared a Change.org petition trying to draw attention to this issue.
At Niche Gamer, we strive to inform and allow readers to make their own conclusions. However when it comes to such draconian censorship as this we find it difficult to remain objective. That being said, we encourage anyone who’s disturbed by the chilling effect on freedom of expression caused by these groups to.
- Sign the Change.org petition to help quantify support.
- Write to your representatives.
It’s important to remember that until now, Steam and Itch allowed this type of content. We’re not saying they’re blameless, but at the end of the day they’re a business and Visa and Mastercard control the lion’s share of online transactions. The roots of the issue are payment processors and Collective Shout.
Update: Senator Kevin Cramer [R-ND] has introduced the Fair Access to Banking Act, if you choose to contact a representative considering mentioning this bill.
This bill places restrictions on certain banks, credit unions, and payment card networks if they refuse to do business with a person who complies with the law. Restrictions include prohibiting the use of electronic funds transfer systems and lending programs, termination of an institution’s depository insurance, and specified civil penalties.
Banks and other specified financial institutions are allowed to deny financial services to a person only if the denial is justified by a documented failure of that person to meet quantitative, impartial, risk-based standards established in advance by the institution. This justification may not be based upon reputational risks to the institution.
The bill establishes the right for a person to bring a civil action for a violation of this bill.
