Tag: Collective Shout

  • Mastercard Faces Backlash Over Steam Games Ban During VCT Livestreams

    Mastercard Faces Backlash Over Steam Games Ban During VCT Livestreams

    Key Takeaways

    1. Mastercard faced criticism for banning comments related to its brand in esports livestreams, following backlash over game censorship on Steam.
    2. Ana Valens resigned from Vice after exposing Mastercard’s communications with Riot Games regarding chat moderation.
    3. During VCT Americas Stage 2, Riot’s Twitch and YouTube channels implemented follower-only modes, leading to bans for users mentioning Mastercard.
    4. Gamers frustrated by Steam’s censorship turned to alternative streams, where they voiced their dissatisfaction with Mastercard’s actions.
    5. Other payment processors are also scrutinized for banning mature content in games, influenced by activist groups like Collective Shout advocating against objectification in media.

    When gamers found out that payment processors were banning games on Steam, Mastercard became a target for criticism. In a bid to manage the fallout, the credit card company released a statement trying to clarify its position on the issue. However, it has now been revealed that Mastercard is also meddling with esports livestreams. A source connected to Riot Games disclosed that the company asked to block any comments that could harm its brand.

    Resignation and Revelations

    Ana Valens recently left her position at Vice after penning an article about game censorship. She took to social media to share communications between Mastercard and Riot Games. The request from Mastercard asked content creators to keep an eye out for negative comments in the chat. Even though channels aren’t forced to follow sponsor directives, it appears that most chose to align with the payment processor’s wishes.

    Moderation Practices In Action

    Esports Illustrated on SI pointed out some of the chat moderation during the VCT Americas Stage 2. On August 8th, gamers observed that the official Riot Twitch and YouTube channels had switched on follower/subscriber-only modes. While this isn’t something new, viewers reported that they had to follow the streams for a full 24 hours to chat. Nevertheless, fans who mentioned Mastercard faced bans or longer timeouts.

    Community Backlash

    Fans already frustrated over the Steam game censorship sought solace in streams that weren’t linked to Riot. In those spaces, Mastercard faced significant backlash from gamers who support legal adult-themed games.

    Broader Implications for Payment Processors

    Other credit cards are also facing scrutiny. After Steam’s actions, Itch.io removed indie games with mature content from its platform. Unlike Valve’s site, Itch.io primarily depends on PayPal and Stripe, with at least one payment processor objecting to certain games available for sale.

    Activist Influence

    Collective Shout seems to be pushing many of the bans. This Australian activist group is against the objectification of women and girls in various media, including games. They recently claimed to have swayed the credit cards and payment processors. These companies often have rules against their services being used for illegal content sales. Critics argue that many of the games in question contain adult themes but do not break any laws.

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  • Steam Game Censorship: Journalists Resign After Payment Issues

    Steam Game Censorship: Journalists Resign After Payment Issues

    Key Takeaways

    1. Valve removed several Steam games with adult content due to claims from payment processors about rule violations.
    2. The Australia-based group Collective Shout is linked to the censorship of games, promoting a mission against the “objectification of women and the sexualisation of girls.”
    3. Other organizations, like the National Center on Sexual Exploitation and Exodus Cry, have also influenced the removal of games from Valve’s platform.
    4. Vice journalist Ana Valens faced pressure to remove content about Collective Shout and ultimately left the publication, prompting others to resign in solidarity.
    5. The situation raises concerns about the influence of payment processors and activist groups on content moderation and the freedom of journalists to discuss censorship.

    Recently, Valve took down a number of Steam games that included adult content. This decision was made after payment processors claimed that these games broke their “rules and standards.” However, further investigation by reporters showed that other groups also played a role in these bans. Now, writers for Vice are caught in the middle of this issue, with some even leaving the publication.

    The Role of Collective Shout

    On July 19th, Ana Valens wrote an article for Vice titled, “Group Behind Steam Censorship Policies Have Powerful Allies — And Targeted Popular Games With Outlandish Claims.” The piece highlighted how the Australia-based group Collective Shout claimed responsibility for the removal of many games from Steam. Their website outlines a mission against what they view as the “objectification of women and the sexualisation of girls.” Valens describes this group as a “radical feminist organization” that promotes the censorship of adult content.

    Other Influential Organizations

    The Vice piece also brought attention to groups like the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) and Exodus Cry, which have previously campaigned for the removal of various titles from Valve’s platform. In some instances, such as with Detroit: Become Human, Collective Shout has accused developers of encouraging violence against women and children. Valens suggests that these politically charged claims are usually baseless. Additionally, activists often manage to target games without giving clear reasons.

    The Fallout at Vice

    Valens shared on social media that the owner of Vice ordered her to remove content related to Collective Shout due to its controversial nature. After she refused, she chose to stop contributing to Waypoint, the gaming section of Vice. Following her departure, several colleagues also resigned in solidarity. It remains uncertain whether the higher-ups at Vice have any connections to Collective Shout or its partners.

    Many people criticize the significant influence that payment processors hold over how Valve moderates content on Steam. Others take issue with groups like Collective Shout pressuring banks based on their political views. The turmoil at Vice also brings forth broader discussions about the freedom of journalists to voice their opinions on censorship issues.

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    Steam Game Censorship: Journalists Resign After Payment IssuesSteam Game Censorship: Journalists Resign After Payment Issues

     

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