Taro Yamada, a politician from Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, recently revealed a concerning issue regarding censorship in the financial industry. The Visual Industry group met with international brands, payment agencies, and banks to address the issue of alleged financial censorship on certain types of content.
The Meeting Details
Yamada could not disclose the specifics of the attendees or the companies involved in the meeting, but he mentioned that there was significant progress made in understanding each participant’s stance on the matter. The discussion aimed to identify the root of the problem and find solutions to the accusations of financial censorship.
Pressure on Payment Processors
Following pressure on payment processing companies to restrict transactions involving specific content, including works with homosexual romance, violent imagery, and sexual content, businesses in Japan faced challenges. Some businesses claim that they had to shut down after being pressured by an international company to remove certain content from their stores or face payment processing refusal.
Mastercard’s Response
In response to the backlash faced by Mastercard for removing content from platforms like Steam and Itch, the company publicly stated that they allow all purchases within the law. They also emphasized the importance of all platform owners adhering to the same standards of conduct.
The ongoing investigation into financial censorship in Japan highlights the complex interplay between content restrictions, payment processing, and the freedom of expression in the digital age.
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