Australian Group Claims Win in Steam Censorship Battle Over Adult Content
▼ Summary
– Collective Shout, an Australian anti-pornography group, claims responsibility for Steam’s removal of sexually explicit games and stricter moderation, citing pressure on payment processors.
– Vice’s parent company allegedly removed two Waypoint articles about Collective Shout’s campaign due to controversial content, not reporting errors, leading to the author’s resignation.
– Collective Shout, founded in 2009, has a history of campaigns targeting media content, including unsuccessful bans on artists and successful retail restrictions on games like Grand Theft Auto 5.
– The group’s recent campaign involved urging payment processors to cut ties with Steam over explicit games, resulting in Valve removing hundreds of titles due to processor pressure.
– Collective Shout continues to target remaining games tagged with controversial themes, while critics raise concerns about broader censorship and anti-expression efforts.
An Australian advocacy group has taken credit for Steam’s recent crackdown on adult-oriented games, citing pressure on payment processors as the driving force behind the platform’s stricter moderation policies. Collective Shout, an organization campaigning against sexualized media content, claims its targeted efforts led to Valve removing hundreds of controversial titles from its storefront.
Reports initially surfaced through Vice’s gaming outlet Waypoint, though the articles were later removed without explanation. The journalist behind those pieces, Ana Valens, maintains the reporting was accurate and suggests corporate interference led to their deletion. Meanwhile, Collective Shout has openly celebrated what it describes as a victory in its ongoing campaign against explicit digital content.
Founded in 2009 by activist Melinda Tankard Reist, Collective Shout has a history of targeting media it deems objectionable. The group previously lobbied against musicians like Snoop Dogg and Tyler the Creator entering Australia, successfully pressured retailers to stop selling Grand Theft Auto V locally, and previously petitioned against games including No Mercy and Detroit: Become Human.
The organization’s latest campaign focused directly on payment providers. Through Change.org petitions and direct outreach, supporters were urged to contact companies like PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard, demanding they sever ties with Steam over what Collective Shout characterized as “rape, incest, and child-abuse games.” The group claims over 1,000 individuals participated in this pressure campaign.
Valve confirmed the policy changes resulted from payment processor concerns, though the exact number of removed games remains unclear. While Collective Shout cites figures in the hundreds, independent analysis suggests the actual count may be lower when accounting for duplicates and unrelated removals. The organization nevertheless declared success, vowing to continue targeting dozens of remaining titles it finds objectionable.
The situation has sparked controversy beyond just content removal. Collective Shout’s leadership has faced backlash for inflammatory social media posts characterizing game enthusiasts in extreme terms. Meanwhile, the disappearance of critical journalism about the campaign has raised questions about media transparency, with former Waypoint staff maintaining their reporting was sound despite its retraction.
This development marks another chapter in ongoing debates about content moderation, payment processor influence, and artistic expression in digital marketplaces. With Collective Shout promising further action and affected developers seeking alternatives, the conversation shows no signs of concluding soon. The episode highlights how external pressure groups can significantly impact platform policies, sometimes with consequences that extend beyond their stated objectives.
(Source: NewsAPI Video Games & Console News)
