Content Moderation
Ongoing coverage on Content Moderation.
Latest coverage
Roblox confirms no adult content used in AI training after scraping Open3DLab data
Roblox Corporation has confirmed that an AI agent mistakenly scraped 145.5 GB of 3D assets, including adult content, from Open3DLab's subsidiary sites. The company has decommissioned the agent and stated the data will not be used for AI training. This incident raises concerns about content moderation and the potential for adult material to be included in AI-generated assets offered to Roblox's young user base.
Hellraiser: Revival Divides Opinion on Release
Hellraiser: Revival has launched to a divided reception, with critics offering a wide range of scores from 4.5/10 to 9/10, while players on Steam have overwhelmingly praised the game. Developed by Saber Interactive and published by Boss Team Games, the first-person horror title is noted for its faithfulness to Clive Barker's original material and its extreme content, which has already caused issues for some content creators. Despite praise for its atmosphere and story, some critics cited bugs and frustrating design.
YouTuber's Channel Permanently Banned Over Censored Hellraiser: Revival Gameplay Video
A YouTuber's channel has been permanently banned after uploading a censored gameplay video of Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival. The ban highlights the strict content moderation policies on the platform.
Why Do Gambling Threads Get More Reports Than Any Other Category on UK Forums? | Invision Game Community
Gambling-related threads on UK forums receive more user reports than other categories due to a combination of high user activity, the involvement of real money, promotional content, and strong personal experiences. This intersection of factors leads to more frequent flagging by users concerned about misinformation or commercial intent, even when discussions are not inherently hostile.
"We clearly handled that responsibility poorly": Paradox ban Discord profile pics of historical figures born after 1800, after bust-up with Hearts of Iron 4 players over Atatürk banning
Paradox Interactive has banned the use of Discord profile pictures depicting historical figures born after 1800, following an incident where a moderator banned a user for using a photo of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Game director Laszlo Pieper apologized for the poor handling of the situation and stated the new rule aims to prevent ambiguity in moderation, though the author questions the arbitrary date cutoff and Paradox's approach to history in their games.
Forza Horizon 6 Dev Responds to 'Itasha' Car Ban Backlash, Says 'Explicit Sexual Content' or 'Sexually Suggestive Content' Is Forbidden
Microsoft has updated the code of conduct for Forza Horizon 6 to clarify its stance on user-generated content, specifically addressing backlash over the perceived unfair banning of 'Itasha' car designs. The company stated that explicit sexual or sexually suggestive content is forbidden.
Love Nikki Player Shuts Down Fan Website Over Game's 'Irreverent' and 'Demonic' Clothing Designs
A fan of the mobile game Love Nikki – Dress Up Queen has shut down their fan website due to concerns that some of the game's clothing designs are 'demonic' and 'irreverent.' The decision has gained significant attention online.
Rockstar Games Is Taking Down Footage and Images of Scrapped GTA 5 DLC And Early Version of Leaked GTA 6 Map
Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, is actively removing videos and posts containing leaked content from Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto VI. This action indicates a strong stance against the unauthorized sharing of game assets and development materials.
Valve Reverses Nighthawks Rating After Developer Appeal
Valve has reversed the 'Adult Only' rating applied to the vampire RPG Nighthawks, allowing it to launch on Steam on September 22. The rating had restricted the game's visibility on the storefront. Wadjet Eye Games appealed the decision, which also brought increased attention and wishlists for the title.
"Valve is under the impression that this game is way sexier": Nighthawks devs claim vampire RPG has erroneously been slapped with Steam adult content label
The vampire RPG Nighthawks has been incorrectly labeled as adult content by Valve, preventing it from appearing in Steam searches and causing its removal in some countries. Developers Wadjet Eye Games and Richard Cobbett are working with Valve to rectify the classification, which they believe is a misinterpretation of the game's mature themes and limited explicit content.
"I'm desperately looking for anybody who knows anybody at Valve": open world satire Future? No Thanks! is still locked in Steam horny jail
The open-world satire Future? No Thanks! by Molleindustria is facing significant visibility issues on Steam due to Valve's content moderation policies regarding nudity, despite the removal of explicit content. Creator Paolo Pedercini reports the game is misclassified as pornography, making it invisible to most users and geo-locked in Germany, even after receiving age ratings from official bodies. Pedercini expressed frustration, highlighting the surreal experience and seeking direct communication with Valve to resolve the situation.
Bluesky has a new setting to help you avoid accidentally going viral
Bluesky has introduced a new setting that allows users to prevent their posts from appearing in the platform's algorithmic 'discover' feed. This feature aims to give users more control over their content's reach and prevent accidental virality.
"This has been the most humiliating and surreal experience in 20+ years of game making": Dev pleads with Valve as Steam brands his PEGI 12 game as pornography
Developer Molleindustria is experiencing a "humiliating and surreal" situation as Valve has classified their teen-rated game, Future? No Thanks!, as pornography, making it largely invisible on Steam. Despite removing a mild sex scene, the game retains an adult-only label, impacting its visibility and availability, particularly in Germany. The developer is seeking assistance to understand Valve's decision and resolve the classification issue.
Roblox put a stop to games that include rewards for endless, TikTok-style scrolling, if you're under the age of 16 anyway
Roblox has implemented new restrictions on games that offer rewards for engaging with endless, TikTok-style scrolling feeds, particularly for users under 16. This change follows the removal of the popular game 'Steal an Egg,' which featured such mechanics. The platform stated that rewarding users for continuous content consumption without natural stopping points is inappropriate for younger audiences.
Roblox takes down controversial doomscrolling game, promises to remove others that reward watching "a continuous feed of content" as they're "not appropriate for younger users"
Roblox has removed the controversial game "Steal an Egg" and is implementing a new policy against games that reward users for watching continuous feeds of content, such as short-form videos. The company stated that such content is not appropriate for younger users on its platform. This decision has been met with positive feedback from the community.
Roblox makes three of its AI safety tools open source
Roblox is open-sourcing three of its AI safety tools, including a PII classifier and a voice safety classifier, through the Robust Open Online Safety Tools Model Community (ROOST), which it co-founded with Google, OpenAI, and Discord. These tools are already deployed on Roblox's platform and aim to help other companies improve their online safety measures. This move comes as Roblox faces scrutiny from the US Senate regarding its child safety practices.
"Steam is a monopoly with very few precedents," says dev of game inexplicably flagged as adult-only by Valve: "As a developer, I'm completely at their whim"
The creator of the game Future? No Thanks! has criticized Valve's Steam platform, calling it a monopoly with opaque rules that leave developers at its mercy. The game was repeatedly flagged as adult-only without clear reasoning, despite containing mature themes rather than explicit content. This situation highlights ongoing concerns about Valve's content moderation policies and its dominant position in the PC gaming market.
AI Fruit Gore Is Sliding Into Kids’ Feeds, and Researchers Say It Carries Extremism With It
A new analysis from the Global Network on Extremism and Technology (GNET) reveals that AI-generated fruit content on social media is increasingly being used to spread violent and extremist material, particularly targeting young audiences. While the report highlights the slide from harmless content to graphic violence and ideological messaging, it also notes caveats regarding the research methodology and the funding source of GNET.
Fenris Creations’ fumbled moderation of an alleged EVE Online RMT streamer frustrates fans
EVE Online players are frustrated with CCP Games' handling of streamer Lorumerth's alleged real money trading activities. CCP Swift admitted to not providing full context to the moderation team, leading to a punishment that only addressed giveaway policy violations and not the exchange of spaceships for money. Players are disappointed with the perceived leniency towards an influencer.
Google will now allow users to remove visible watermarks from AI content
Google will now allow users to remove visible watermarks from AI-generated content, though the invisible SynthID watermark will remain. This policy change affects how AI-generated media is identified and shared.