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Against the censorship of adult content by payment processors

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Re: Against the censorship of adult content by payment processors

#81

Post by Goronmon »

potbelly83 wrote: post #77

I think a lot of people are missing the point. Most likely what's happening here is that the issuers (not Visa/MC) see a large number of chargebacks/fraud for adult content sites and have determined that it's much easier if they don't accept transactions from these sites.

Most likely what's happening here is that the issuers (not Visa/MC) see a large number of chargebacks/fraud for adult content sites and have determined that it's much easier if they don't accept transactions from these sites.

That's definitely what I would claim if I wanted to take down content I didn't want. Who is going to prove them wrong?

Re: Against the censorship of adult content by payment processors

#82

Post by _Algernon_ »

protocolture wrote: post #5

Clarifying I find the furry art weird, and not pornographic. (Weird is fine btw, normal is the worse insult imho) I think the biggest issue is the damage that the word "Censorship" has taken in the last few years. If I ran a payment processor, the first thing I would do is try to be as neutral as my moral compass allows. The second thing I would do is intentionally stop processing payments on behalf of anyone I was u…

If your water company stops delivering water to you because you post furry porn it becomes a problem. The problem is when a company becomes so big that it is a natural monopoly (or effectively part of a cartel), while basically being necessary infrastructure to operate in a modern society.

These payment networks fit that description, and should either be broken apart so that you get the necessary competition, or be regulated so that they have to provide service for legal goods and services in a given jurisdiction.

Re: Against the censorship of adult content by payment processors

#83

Post by Goronmon »

coldpie wrote: post #76
FirmwareBurner wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

THIS. Why is this PoV even controversial? Especially given that the videogames in question weren't even illegal. Hell, I don't even like those games, but it's about the precedent of corporate overreach: if it's all legal, Visa/MasterCard shouldn't be able to decide for me what games I'm allowed to buy, no matter how weird they may be. It's not their job to judge the legal kinks I'm up to in the privacy of my own home…

> THIS. Why is this PoV even controversial? Because it is stating that the government should control private behavior, which bumps into free speech and freedom of association issues. That gets pretty controversial. There are other solutions to the stated problem: > Given their market dominance, they should absolutely not have any right to refuse service. The fix is to address the precondition in that statement: their…

That gets pretty controversial.

Is this issue always controversial?

Is it controversial that companies aren't allowed to refuse service based on gender or race (in the US at least)?

Re: Against the censorship of adult content by payment processors

#86

Post by coldpie »

Goronmon wrote: post #83
coldpie wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> THIS. Why is this PoV even controversial? Because it is stating that the government should control private behavior, which bumps into free speech and freedom of association issues. That gets pretty controversial. There are other solutions to the stated problem: > Given their market dominance, they should absolutely not have any right to refuse service. The fix is to address the precondition in that statement: their…

That gets pretty controversial. Is this issue always controversial? Is it controversial that companies aren't allowed to refuse service based on gender or race (in the US at least)?

> Is it controversial that companies aren't allowed to refuse service based on gender or race (in the US at least)?

Those are legal categories known as "protected classes," and yeah, it was and is pretty controversial[1]. I think you'd have a hard time getting purchasers of porn games declared a protected class.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1964 ; further reading, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protected_group

Re: Against the censorship of adult content by payment processors

#87

Post by chrisoverzero »

potbelly83 wrote: post #77

I think a lot of people are missing the point. Most likely what's happening here is that the issuers (not Visa/MC) see a large number of chargebacks/fraud for adult content sites and have determined that it's much easier if they don't accept transactions from these sites.

What makes that "most likely," other than that you thought of it?

Re: Against the censorship of adult content by payment processors

#89

Post by danaris »

coldpie wrote: post #76
FirmwareBurner wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

THIS. Why is this PoV even controversial? Especially given that the videogames in question weren't even illegal. Hell, I don't even like those games, but it's about the precedent of corporate overreach: if it's all legal, Visa/MasterCard shouldn't be able to decide for me what games I'm allowed to buy, no matter how weird they may be. It's not their job to judge the legal kinks I'm up to in the privacy of my own home…

> THIS. Why is this PoV even controversial? Because it is stating that the government should control private behavior, which bumps into free speech and freedom of association issues. That gets pretty controversial. There are other solutions to the stated problem: > Given their market dominance, they should absolutely not have any right to refuse service. The fix is to address the precondition in that statement: their…

The companies in question are monopolies. If you can't get your payments processed by Visa and Mastercard, you are effectively debanked.

We collectively agreed long ago that monopolies do not get to enjoy the same freedoms that other companies do.

Re: Against the censorship of adult content by payment processors

#90

Post by xfeeefeee »

I create music videos which can be provocative, though not necessarily pornographic, and this kind of thing really bothers me since I've run into similar problems even just with hosting and donations. Thankfully, I don't try to make this anything more than a creative outlet, so I don't have to worry about taking payments, and I'm happy enough that any expenses are at least covered by a few donations. But it concerns me that it is not an option for others who might find themselves in similar gray areas.
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