I hate to go through this all over again. On July 23rd, Itch.io, one of the most popular platforms for hosting queer and adult independent media, went through a large-scale crackdown on adult content.
This was primarily aimed at games, but novels and comics were hit in the process. Most adult content has been de-listed from the site's search, and some creators were banned without warning. Any funds banned creators have not been paid are currently being withheld by Itch.io.
This crackdown was done, as it always is, because of payment processors like Mastercard and Visa threatening to pull their services.
The payment processors caved to an influence campaign by Australian extremist anti-pornography group Collective Shout, who have been inundating Visa and Mastercard with calls to force video game platforms to stop hosting adult content - which, of course, includes anything queer.
Collective Shout claim to have sent in 1000 emails to get this result, but there are a WAY more than a thousand of us. We need as many people as possible to make as much noise as we can!
Below the cut are numbers and scripts, all you need to do is follow the step by step guide.
Graphic, contact info, alt text, and script by voiddebris on Bluesky, also available collected in a handy document:
⊘Anti-Censorship Campaign ⊘ ⟡ Complaint Letter Template Customer Complaint Dept, This message is to lodge an official complaint about
Paypal:
Phone (US): 1-888-221-1161
Phone (outside US): 1-402-935-2050
Hours: 6am - 6pm PT
Online (for non-users or logged out - UK bc US site ONLY allows logged in users)
Mastercard:
Phone (US): 1-800-627-8372
Phone (outside US): 1-636-722-7111
Online form
Visa:
Phone (US): 1-800-847-2911
Non-US numbers
Online form
Script:
Customer Complaint Dept,
This message is to lodge an official complaint about the ongoing rampant restrictions your company has placed on legal sales made by legitimate businesses.
These restrictions are not only counter to the concept of freedom of speech and expression, but they harm consumers, businesses, and they harm your company’s bottom line.
The following actions are absolutely necessary to protect the freedoms of your client base and the sustainability of legitimate business practices:
1. Remove from your Terms of Service any mention barring the use of your service for sale and purchase of legal products.
2. Contact Steam (Valve), Itch.io, and any other company you have previously put pressure on to retract your content restrictions.
Put in place protections to prevent such restrictions from being put in place in the future without ample warning and time to contest them.
If these changes aren't made then I, along with many others will be forced to seek other options for processing payments.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Customer
***
OTHER THINGS YOU CAN DO
Sign this petition from the ACLU:
Mastercard's new policy unfairly targets the adult content industry, making sex workers more vulnerable, especially Black trans women. It mu
Americans - contact your representatives about payment processors acting as censors! You can find your reps’ contact information on 5calls.org.
Script, from here:
Hello Representative/Senator [LAST NAME],
-or-
Hello office of Representative/Senator [LAST NAME],
My name is [YOUR FIRST NAME/SCREEN NAME] and I am one of your constituents.
I am calling today to express my concerns with technological censorship. Legal and legitimate adult entertainment is being banned in this country. These bans are not by legislators, but by payment processors like Mastercard and Visa.
Mastercard and Visa are improperly creating legislation online through their user and merchant policies. They are banning creator and user access to content that is legal and legitimate. They are inciting fear and panic to encourage censorship.
Please take a stand against this impermissible censorship. This is a direct attack on an adult's right to legal content. No one but the legislative branch should be allowed to create legislation.
Please support the Federal Trade Commission in their stand against technological censorship to protect the first amendment.
Thank you for taking the time to listen today.
UPDATE: Apparently it is Stripe specifically putting the pressure on Itch.io:
“The open case we have with Stripe right now is probably most critical right now. They apparently are or will be making a determination on the eligibility of our entire platform soon. Do what you want with that information”
Contact info for Stripe can be found here and here:
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Rated 18+ for mature content
• Adult situations and themes
• Mature language
• Violence and trauma
• Descriptions and scenes of addiction
You just moved to Newcrest, Virginia and started school at the local community college, Cardinal Community College. Strangely, you don't think anyone can really see or communicate with you, as every time you attempt to speak up or attend classes, you're noticeably missing from the roster and your voice goes unheard.
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