Video game censorship: Steam publicly contradicts Mastercard

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Video game censorship: steam publicly new: Similarly. For example,

Video game censorship: steam publicly:

The affair of the banishment of games on Steam and Itch.io takes a new turn. Similarly, Valve has decided not to let MasterCard alone on the field of communication.

The Steam // Source logo: Valve

Who wants to censor video games? Consequently, For several weeks and the abolition of tens of thousands of titles on ITCH.io and Steam, the question of the involvement of payments of payments is debated.

After updating their publication rules. Therefore. Nevertheless, the two video game shops, in fact, pointed out Paypal, Visa and in particular Mastercard, for the new, more strict editorial rules.

Faced with the players’ pressure. Therefore. Mastercard has communicated and the declaration video game censorship: steam publicly new does not seem to video game censorship: steam publicly tell the same events as Steam.

Mastercard – Video game censorship: steam publicly – Video game censorship: steam publicly new

In a publication on social networks, Mastercard refers the problem to platforms.

Mastercard did not evaluate any games. For example. imposed restrictions on the activities of games and platforms for creating games, contrary to what some media and allegations assert.

Our payment network meets standards based on the rule of law. Furthermore, In other words, we allow all legal purchases on our network. Consequently, At the same time. we require merchants that they set up appropriate controls to ensure that Mastercard cards cannot be used for illegal purchases. in particular for the purchase of content for illegal adults.

This publication immediately accompanied by a community note on Twitter indicates that it is up to platforms to. ensure that Mastercard cards are not used in an illegal context.

Steam’s response

Asked about the Mastercard declaration, Valve, the owner of Steam, sent video game censorship: steam publicly new a declaration to the media My city.

“Mastercard did not communicate directly with Valve. despite our request in this sense,” said the valve press release sent by e-mail to Kotaku. “Mastercard has communicated with payment processors and their buying banks. The payment processors have sent this information to Valve. and we responded by exhibiting Steam’s policy since 2018, which consists in trying to distribute games whose distribution is legal. The payment processors have rejected this response, specifically quoting rule 5.12.7 of Mastercard and the risk for the Mastercard brand. »»

Mastercard would therefore play on a detail: the company did not exert direct pressure on ITCH.IO and Steam, but would have done it through the intermediaries of payment processors such as the Stripe platform.

As can be read. Valve refers to the MasterCard use adjustment, of which you can find a copy directly coming from video game censorship: steam publicly new MasterCard. Rule 5.12.7 precisely concerns the ” illegal video game censorship: steam publicly or detrimental transactions to the brand ». The most interesting is in the extract concerning offensive images.

The sale of a product. a service. including an image, which is clearly offensive and devoid of serious artistic value (as, as an example and without limiting itself, images of non -consensual sexual behavior, the sexual exploitation of a minor, the non -consensual mutilation of a person or a part of the body, and the bestiality), or any other material that society judges to sell in relation to a brand.

Bringing this rule may generate additional costs for the platform on the part of Mastercard. go as far as radiation of the intermediary in question.

In other words. there is a very real pressure that is exercised via Mastercard partners on content distribution platforms like video game censorship: steam publicly new Itch.io and Steam.

Mastercard. the law

Video game censorship: steam publicly new

Video game censorship: steam publicly

What Valve video game censorship: steam publicly underlines. by pointing this extract is that he directly contradicts the Mastercard Declaration. The latter simply refers to strictly monitoring the law and not to market illegal products.

Mastercard regulations also indicate this, but adds the content “ detrimental to the brand ». It is therefore no longer simply a question of respect for the law. but also of protection of the Mastercard brand image. The text also indicates that we are talking about content ” obviously offensive “. But there too, it is not a legal notion, but well completely subjective.

Some video games can tackle sensitive subjects such as ” the sexual exploitation of a minor Without praising it. on the contrary denounce or underline a subject of society. This type of content is perfectly video game censorship: steam publicly new legal, but can be deemed “detrimental” for the Mastercard brand image.

Lots of content withdrawn by Steam and Itch.io in this case concerned video game censorship: steam publicly this kind of video game approaching societal subjects. Several creators LGBT+ have testified to having seen their contents be deleted from these platforms. The International Association of Video Game Developers (IGDA) said it was “seriously worried” about this situation. and in particular the risks of “silencement or self-censorship” of queer creators.


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