Maybe you’ve heard that Steam and Itch.io are delisting NSFW games, as a result of pressure from payment processors Visa and Mastercard. Or UK residents needing to provide ID just to access Twitter/X.
These are among several ongoing threats to your online freedoms. But you can help fight back for you and your communities.
What Are the Threats to my NSFW Freedoms?
Around the world, governments and corporations are exerting undue influence over what you can consume and create online. These measures expose vulnerable groups such as NSFW creators and sex workers to increased harm by limiting access to safe platforms, gainful employment, and self-expression.
These reforms are not always targeted at “just porn”; some have broad-reaching effects that can cripple your access to basic search engines or social media, unless you provide Personal Identifying Information (PII) to third-party corporations with notoriously poor records of security and integrity.
The Current Threats
There are three current threats to online expression and safety.
These are:
1. Mastercard’s New Policy Regulating Adult Content, including pre-approval of all content before publication, forbidding certain search terms, and monitoring the age and identity verification process for all adult performers.
You can read a detailed explainer on how Mastercard can wield such power.
2. The United Kingdom Online Safety Rules, including sweeping restrictions on websites that force users to prove their identity to access adult material, which includes both sexual content and non-sexual content, such as historical recordings, horror genres, and fan art.
You can read an explainer on how the act is enforced.
3. The Australian Under-16s Social Media Ban, which will force all Australians over 16 to provide facial data or digital ID to access social media, search engines, and chat-enabled content, including Google, YouTube, PlayStation, Instagram, and more.
You can read an explainer on the full scope of this ban.
How to Help
Join thousands of others in fighting back by signing petitions and making our voices heard.
Mastercard:
There are two major petitions open to raise concerns about Mastercard and Visa’s regulatory policies:
- ACLU (US Only): https://action.aclu.org/petition/mastercard-sex-work-work-end-your-unjust-policy
- ChangeOrg: https://www.change.org/p/tell-mastercard-visa-activist-groups-stop-controlling-what-we-can-watch-read-or-play
UK Online Safety Act:
There is one major petition before the parliament, which UK citizens can sign:
Australian Under-16s Social Media Ban:
There is one major petition with the Australia’s Voice political party:
Okay, I’ve Done That. How Can I Learn More?
Mastercard Policy
404Media Explainer:
https://www.404media.co/credit-card-companies-are-hurting-the-future-of-video-games
A detailed explainer on how Mastercard can wield such power:
https://www.reddit.com/r/KotakuInAction/comments/1bp3uf9/we_need_to_talk_about_why_mastercard_is_the_heart/
Itch.io’s NSFW Game Takedown Statement:
https://itch.io/updates/update-on-nsfw-content
Transfeminine Review:
https://thetransfemininereview.com/2025/07/24/itch-io-nsfw-ban/
Regarding the forced takedown and the charity behind it:
https://web.archive.org/web/20250719204151/https://www.vice.com/en/article/group-behind-steam-censorship-policies-have-powerful-allies-and-targeted-popular-games-with-outlandish-claims/
A list of known “mature” content Visa/Mastercard takes issue with:
https://www.reddit.com/r/KotakuInAction/comments/1m533qj/a_full_list_of_what_visamastercard_deems/
Additional Petitions to Sign:
- Australia Only:
https://www.acnc.gov.au/raise-concern - US Only: https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1W40xH4yVSp8o58TfsHividycZtmXVUmskmkB7b82y28/mobilebasic
- Canada Only: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=-b0i80K57kas_03F_wgRh9g_fp1yus9LprUWw9gcKnVUNFY5UDJQOFE2NzlZWUdRUjJaWjNLSzVCRS4u
- (Intl.) https://www.change.org/p/stop-payment-processors-from-dictating-legal-purchases
- (Intl.) https://www.change.org/p/end-discriminatory-practices-by-payment-processors-against-japanese-art-imports
Unions and Foundations
EFF Statement Page on Financial Censorship
https://www.eff.org/issues/financial-censorship
Free Speech Unions and Foundations
https://www.eff.org
https://cbldf.org
https://www.freespeechcoalition.com
UK Online Safety Act
The act itself:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/online-safety-act
BBC News Explainer:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1k81lj8nvpo
The Guardian Explainer: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/24/what-are-the-new-uk-online-safety-rules-and-how-will-they-be-enforced
Reddit details why you should care: https://www.reddit.com/r/transgenderUK/comments/1m9aety/repeal_the_online_safety_act_petition_a_gross/
Australia Under-16s Social Media Ban
The law itself: https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions
The Guardian explains the ban:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/25/should-youtube-be-included-in-australias-under-16s-social-media-ban-heres-what-you-need-to-know
The Guardian examines the technology:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/20/face-age-and-id-checks-using-the-internet-in-australia-is-about-to-fundamentally-change
The Guardian covers surprise expansions to the ban:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/23/new-rules-will-radically-change-the-way-we-use-the-internet-in-australia-and-not-just-social-media
Additional Petitions to Sign:
- https://www.change.org/p/prevent-the-banning-of-social-media-in-australia-for-kids-16-years-and-younger
- https://www.change.org/p/rethink-the-social-media-ban-proposal
- https://www.change.org/p/protect-content-freedom-in-australia
European Union Digital Safety Commission
Reuters explains the 5 EU States participating in age verification:
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/five-eu-states-test-age-verification-app-protect-children-2025-07-14/
EU EC’s Approach to Age Verification:
https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-age-verification
Cover photo by Rob Coates on Unsplash