Earlier this year, Itch.io and Steam had to take down games due to pressure from companies like Mastercard, Visa, Paypal, and Stripe.
Mastercard, Visa, and other payment processors are still targeting material they deem obscene - whether or not it actually is.
We need to start calling again. Even if you don't like NSFW stuff or dislike porn - porn and nsfw is only the start of what they'll go after.
Among Mastercard's list of "high fraud risk" subjects in relation to Mastercard Threat Intelligence are the following:
Vtubing
Adult Content (which they define very loosely)
Tabletop Games
Video Games & their platforms
And likely more.
They're likely targeting political activism now in addition to this, and people who speak out against the companies. Notably now, Ana Valens is repeatedly having her payment processing accounts and platforms taken down or flagged as potential fraud - Buy Me A Coffee, Throne, Ko-Fi, Patreon - and in some cases, customer support from these platforms are citing information that hasn't been put on their platforms when explaining why they've targeted her accounts.
Completely SFW accounts of hers have been targeted, likely due to her speaking up about what the payment processors are doing and because of what she makes as a creative. She is at risk of debanking. (Edit: The old link now links to a deleted post. Here's a new one to the same person about the situation)
Paypros censorship 🧵 As you all know, I've faced significant stress this month from having various online accounts dinged in some shape or
This happening to her means that other creators - Vtubers, game devs of both video games and tabletop games, creatives, sex workers - are likely at risk of the same. For many, it's already happening to them.
Companies and corporations should not have the power to censor what people say and do, or where their money goes - political power like this should not lie in their hands.
We need to start calling the payment processors again and making noise. Contact people in your circles, talk to people, spread the word. Contact your representatives about censorship laws. Spend less money this holiday season.
This is not just about sex work or NSFW. This is about people's right to decide what they spend their money on, and in some cases, people's right to access their finances. It's about creative expression and whether or not what we make gets censored, about what we get to say online.
Below are some resources that include info on phone numbers to call, email addresses belonging to the offending companies, and how to call. Start making noise again. Focus on the fact that companies should not have this power over what people spend their money on, at all.
TELL VISA, MASTERCARD, STRIPE, and PayPal to STOP
#SaveSpeech starting Nov 1st we're entering the holiday season, which is a big stress point for big businesses like Mastercard and Visa. Th