Itch.io 'deindexes' all NSFW games, blames same anti-porn group that campaigned against Steam
www.eurogamer.net
Itch.io has "deindexed" all NSFW content following discussions with payment processors contacted by the same pressure group that recently targeted Steam.

Ngl, terrifying stuff. What’s gonna be banned?

  • Lvxferre [he/him]
    10•2 days ago

    [itch dot io] “To ensure that we can continue to operate and provide a marketplace for all developers, we must prioritise our relationship with our payment partners and take immediate steps towards compliance.”

    Emphasis mine. Why are they calling those mafias “partners”?

    Even if most of the blame should be geared towards the Christians in Collective Shout and the greedy PP/MC/Visa mafia, itch dot io should get part of the blame too.

    • CassaOPEnglish
      8•2 days ago

      I don’t think they should get any of the blame? If the payment processors just refuse them - then itch.io will just shut down. it won’t be able to pay for servers, workers or anything.

      • Lvxferre [he/him]
        12•2 days ago

        Read the statement linked in the article. Focus on the words itch dot io used there:

        • “we came under scrutiny [pressure]”
        • “directing concerns [demands] to our payment processors”
        • “prioritize our relationship [dependence] with our payment partners [providers]”

        The only reasonable explanation for the presence of those euphemisms in the statement is, that the people in charge of itch dot io aren’t even trying to fight back. They’re painting the MC/Visa/PP mafia as “concerned partners”. Like a dog a bit too eager to waggle its tail to its master.

        That’s why I’m assigning at least some blame to the platform. Less than the payment mafia, and way less than the conservative nutjobs; but they are not guiltless IMO.

        • CassaOP
          11•2 days ago

          Valve just did the same thing. Valve who’s pretty famous for fighting back did the same thing.

          Those words are lawyer words. Not truth, lawyer words. I surely doubt itchio would come away scot free if they went to the press and said that they were forced

          • Lvxferre [he/him]
            9•2 days ago

            Valve just did the same thing. Valve who’s pretty famous for fighting back did the same thing.

            C’mon, that’s whataboutism. Let’s focus on itch.io.

            Those words are lawyer words. Not truth, lawyer words.

            Yes. And I’m blaming them for that.

            I surely doubt itchio would come away scot free if they went to the press and said that they were forced

            The payment mafia is all about “brand damage”. If itch io said the truth in the statement, while still complying with their threat, I don’t think the mafia would cut it off - because doing it would bring a lot of brand damage to the mafia.

            “Look at itch io! You can’t even criticise the payment mafia, it’ll get in your way! We need to rely on alternative payment systems!” is a situation even the payment mafia would want to avoid.

        • @[email protected]
          6•2 days ago

          I don’t think you understand what being squeezed is like. There is no fighting back when you have no options.

          • Lvxferre [he/him]
            2•2 days ago

            I don’t think you understand what being squeezed is like.

            What you said boils down to “I assume you’re an ignorant”, it doesn’t contribute with the discussion.

            Focus on what is said, instead of assuming things about who says it.

            There is no fighting back when you have no options.

            I already addressed this in another comment in this comment chain.

  • Lvxferre [he/him]
    4•2 days ago

    Sorry for the double-reply but I’ll focus here on different matters, ok?

    I think “we” (people in general) should be doing a few things:

    1. Pressuring governments to implement laws that prevent Visa/MC/PP from doing what they’re doing. As I mentioned in another thread, I don’t even think Visa/MC/PP would fight against that; if anything this would make them immune to pressure from those groups.
    2. Pressuring Visa/MC/PP directly. There are petitions around that already; we should be supporting them, and creating more as necessary.
    3. Spreading awareness of the real motivations of Collective Shout group. No, they aren’t trying to “protect women”, “protect children” or whatever - they’re religious nutjobs trying to push the Overton Window to the right, until even non-erotic LGBTQ+ content gets banned from those platforms.
    4. Support platforms that don’t cave in to demands, in detriment of platforms that do.