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Mastercard release a statement about game stores, payment processors and adult content (www.gamingonlinux.com)

submitted 1 day ago by ZippyBot@lemmy.zip to c/gaming@lemmy.zip

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[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 37 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Mastercard has not evaluated any game or required restrictions of any activity on game creator sites and platforms, contrary to media reports and allegations.

Our payment network follows standards based on the rule of law. Put simply, we allow all lawful purchases on our network. At the same time, we require merchants to have appropriate controls to ensure Mastercard cards cannot be used for unlawful purchases, including illegal adult content.

So, Mastercard is claiming either

that the content Steam and itch were forced to remove was unlawful; or
that they absolutely did no pressure to force either to remove the content

Either way it smells like bullshit.

[–] jacksilver@lemmy.world 19 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What they're saying is: "we haven't called out any specific games, but we told steam if they can't prove a game is "lawful" well cut them off".

This effectively has a chilling effect because it means anything that could be illegal becomes toxic and risky for steam.

Its a way for Mastercard to dictate what can be sold without actually dictating what can be sold. Now the real issue is that at the end of the Mastercard is in a position where this matters and they can influence things. Should work just like cash and leave the government to decide what items are legal/illegal.

[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What they’re saying is: “we haven’t called out any specific games, but we told steam if they can’t prove a game is “lawful” well cut them off”.

That interpretation is inviable because Mastercard is claiming to allow "all" lawful purchases on its network. And, given a purchase is lawful unless proved contrariwise (as a consequence of innocence unless proved guilt), it would need evidence that a purchase is unlawful, in order to prevent it.

So it's more than just dictating what can be sold without actually stating it - people there are lying.

Now the real issue is that at the end of the Mastercard is in a position where this matters and they can influence things. Should work just like cash and leave the government to decide what items are legal/illegal.

Full agree.

[–] jacksilver@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I don't disagree with you on the first point. I put "unlawful" in quotes to imply that lawful/unlawful is ambiguous and gives Mastercard the cover they need to not really be lying in their statement, even if effectively they are.

Its corporate doublespeak to a T.

[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 3 points 1 day ago

I get that you weren't disagreeing on the main point. And I think we agree that Mastercard is trying to have the cake and eat it too - it wants to be a censor without being acknowledged as such.