Restrictions on Content *Act Now*

Hey Gearheads!

I try to keep stuff like this to a minimum, but you are affected by this too and while late, it's time for me to join in putting the word out.

We now have a name to put to the crazy restrictions that have been happening around porn, Collective Shout. From what I've heard, they are a feminist group in Australia that bombards payment processors with complaints about platforms content, in order for them to put pressure on those platforms to change. This is after going directly to those platforms and being told to fuck off.

How does this affect you?

I use to post preview content on Pornhub for you guys, but I can't since the site first forced real word identification and then just flat out banned the site where I am.

I had to shift away from doing anime and petite characters as often because of the Patreons stricter viewing of it. Even if the character is of age it doesn't matter.

Gumroad was a great source for new lewd high quality characters and voice actor content. All gone / hidden. models have moved to other places but they are harder to find now.

Twitter is effectively shadowbanning all NSFW stuff, so you're less likely to discover new people.

When Patreon moved followers to free members, I was / have been able to set content previews to all members, so you could see what was coming out and decide when to join based on seeing something / a character you like. They have started cracking down on that. AVR has gotten hit a couple times so I had to make all posts paid members only at their direction. It's only a matter of time before they start coming for VRA here and FVR.

What can you do?

To be fair, it's speculated that they also have ties to people in power that can help speed things up for them and affect actual change, like with how fast they got to Steam, through VISA/MasterCard. That said as I mentioned bombarding them with complains was also one of their tactics and that is something WE can do as well, to hopefully push the needle back in our direction.

These companies were founded in the US and therefore under the 1st Amendment, Freedom of Speech, includes (most) Porn as protected Speech. So they are fucking with our legal right to goon lol.

The website has some great info and resources, but for simplicity sake here is the main info you need. If enough of us do this, it could have an effect, but if we don't it def. won't.

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CALL/EMAIL SCRIPT — PAYMENT NETWORKS & PROCESSORS (Adult Gaming Content)

MASTERCARD [MOST IMPACT]

US: 1-800-307-7309

Menu path: 1 > 1 > 2 > 2 > 2 > 1

Outside US: 1-636-722-7111

What to say:

- I’m calling to express concern about censoring legal gaming content.

- These policies are impacting Steam and itch.io.

- Please connect me with the policy/compliance department.

VISA [HIGH PRIORITY]

US/Canada: 1-800-847-2911

Menu path: 1 > 1 > 2 (or 1 > 1 > 3)

Key points:

- Visa shouldn’t decide what legal content adults can purchase.

- Gaming platforms are being forced to remove content.

- Please escalate this to management.

STRIPE [TECH-FOCUSED]

HQ (US): 1-888-963-8955

France: +33-805-11-19-67

Email: complaints@stripe.com

Emphasis:

- Stripe supports innovation and creator freedom.

- Don’t follow Visa/Mastercard’s censorship.

- Many platforms rely on Stripe—your stance matters.

PAYPAL [WIDE REACH]

US: 1-888-221-1161

Outside US: 1-402-935-2050

Customer Service: 1-877-569-1116

Message:

- PayPal shouldn’t enforce moral standards beyond the law.

- Legal content is being banned due to activist pressure.

- This affects thousands of game developers.

TIPS FOR CALLS/EMAILS:

- Be polite, concise, and specific about how policies affect you.

- Ask for a ticket/case number and a contact for follow-up.

- Share concrete examples (e.g., removals on Steam/itch.io).

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Found Mention of this reddit post with some great info. Here is the link and suggestions
https://www.reddit.com/r/gamedev/comments/1man6dd/a_differing_viewpoint_on_how_to_handle_collective/

• Call Visa Corporation's customer service, at (800) 847-2911‬. Ask to speak to an American. Tell that American, politely, that you aren't comfortable with Visa trying to control what you're allowed to purchase, and that you're responding by asking your vendors to support other credit cards, and by not using their cards where possible until they stop. Remind them that this isn't the first time they've tried to do this, and that several times laws have been passed to rein them in from trying to control the nation.

• Call your bank and complain that you aren't comfortable with a third party controlling what you purchase, and that you're considering taking your credit card traffic (their #1 source of income) away from them. Remind them that you can buy Law and Order: Special Victims Unit without difficulty, which makes the presumption wholesale invalid from day one.

• Call Steam, and tell them that you aren't comfortable with them bending the knee to this. Remind them that we must resist thought crime systems in every way.

• Call Collective Action, and tell them that you don't like that they're trying to control what you do with your money.

• Sign those dumbassed petitions. Collective Action is 40,000 people in a different country. One of those petitions is a week old and already at 170,000 people. If a petition that says "kindly fuck off" hits a million people, Visa will realize that they're very much financially on the wrong side of this, and change their mind.