Recently, Valve removed dozens of Steam games featuring adult content. The action came at the request of payment processors, who claimed the titles violated their “rules and standards”. However, as journalists investigated, they discovered other organizations influenced the bans. Now, writers who contribute to Vice find themselves entangled in the controversy, with some quitting the website.
Why a Vice writer feels unjustly censored
On July 19th, Ana Valens published a story on Vice (archive available) entitled, “Group Behind Steam Censorship Policies Have Powerful Allies — And Targeted Popular Games With Outlandish Claims.” It discussed how the Australian-based Collective Shout took credit for the removal of many of the Steam games in question. Its own website describes a crusade against the “objectification of women and the sexualisation of girls.” Valens describes the group as a “radical feminist organization” that supports the censorship of any adult content.
The Vice article also focuses on organizations like the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) and Exodus Cry. In the past, they campaigned for the removal of other games on Valve’s marketplace.
In certain cases, like with Detroit: Become Human, Collective Shout accuses developers and publishers of promoting violence against women and children. Valens argues that these politically motivated claims are often unfounded. Also, the activists sometimes successfully target games without providing specific reasons.
Valens revealed on social media that Vice’s owner instructed the journalist to take down content related to Collective Shout. The basis for the removal was that they included controversial subject matter. After refusing to comply, she decided to stop writing for Waypoint, the gaming arm of the website. Then, several of her co-workers also resigned in protest. It’s unclear if Vice’s upper management has any affiliation with Collective Shout or its allies.
Many critics believe that the payment processors have too much say over how Valve moderates Steam content. Other critics object to groups like Collective Shout lobbying these banks based on political agendas. The upheaval at Vice brings up issues that extend beyond the banning of games with adult themes. It also raises questions about the freedom of journalists to express their opinions on censorship.
I became interested in technology at a young age and enjoyed discovering the latest innovations. While earning college degrees in publishing, I created several PC hardware and gaming websites. My passion has always been to guide readers on what products can truly improve their lives. After many years as a Tech Writer for Game Rant, I’m anxious to share my knowledge with a new audience at Notebookcheck.
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