1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing today because I am very concerned about the recent actions of Mastercard and Visa against adult content. Mastercard, Visa, and other payment platforms have been leveraging their power over individual’s freedom to purchase completely legal content for far too long. In 2021, Mastercard changed its policies to impermissibly regulate adult entertainment by preventing the use of its payment platform on numerous adult entertainment sites. The effects of this policy ban were financially detrimental, with content creators citing being unable to maintain housing, increased stress, and increased fear and anxiety for the future. Now, in July of 2025, Australian advocacy group Collective Shout is responsible for the delisting and removal of adult content video games on major platforms Steam and Itch.io. Their goal to impermissibly censor what content individuals have access to won, as platform Steam now cites rule 15, that “adult only” content is not permitted on the platform if it goes against payment processor’s policies. They do not describe what content is defined as “adult only.” This is incredibly alarming as payment processors are able to dictate what is considered adult material and prevent adults from access to adult content. This is not hypothetical either, as platform Itch.io has not only delisted adult video games, but removed them from user’s profiles. Users that purchased legitimate video games cannot download their games. Video game development teams, including artists, developers, and voice actors are terrified as their livelihoods are in limbo. This is a form of financial discrimination against adult entertainers that are selling legitimate, legal content. I am writing to you to support the senate bill Fair Access to Banking Act which will protect individuals from payment processors making legislation where they should not. Additionally, I urge you to support the Federal Trade Commission’s goals in creating rules limiting censorship by technology platforms and their internal procedures. Protecting the adult industry does not only protect creators and users, but protects the whole of American freedoms against autocratic corporations.