Steam and itch.io have recently faced significant backlash due to the abrupt removal of adult-only games as a response to pressure from payment processors like Visa and Mastercard. This trend has raised serious concerns about censorship, with Japanese politician Zenko Kurishita highlighting the negative impact on legitimate adult content creators. The issue isn't new, as Japanese platforms have battled similar censorship challenges since 2022, leading to the mass deletion of content. Payment processors have heightened their scrutiny following lawsuits against platforms like Pornhub, inadvertently affecting a wide range of legitimate adult media, particularly within manga and anime. The vague nature of these regulations leaves developers and platform operators scrambling to comply without clear guidelines, often resulting in unjust penalties for legitimate content.

Why are payment processors cracking down on adult content?

Payment processors have intensified their scrutiny due to increasing legal pressures and lawsuits, particularly against sites like Pornhub for non-consensual and underage content. This has led them to enforce stricter policies to protect their brands and avoid any association with illegal activities, significantly impacting adult content across various platforms.

This ongoing situation is particularly notable in Japan, where cultural perceptions and the unique styles of manga and anime sometimes clash with Western sensibilities regarding adult content. Japanese creators often face challenges where their work is unfairly categorized due to subjective interpretations of nudity and representation. As payment processing companies dictate terms, Japanese platforms struggle to navigate international standards while maintaining creative integrity.