Content Moderation
Ongoing coverage on Content Moderation.
Latest coverage
Gabe Newell reportedly snapped 'What the f*** do I pay you for if that's your opinion?' at Valve lawyer pushing for more content moderation on Steam
Valve co-founder Gabe Newell reportedly admonished Valve general counsel Karl Quackenbush for advocating a stricter content moderation policy on Steam. The anecdote suggests Newell favors a more laissez-faire approach to NSFW content, which Steam has largely maintained despite occasional pressure from payment processors.
Instagram tests new limits on what types of posts teens can 'repeatedly' see
Instagram is testing new restrictions on the types of posts teens can repeatedly see, focusing on content related to body image and mental health. These measures aim to create a safer online environment for younger users.
Fantia walks back on censorship due to severe backlash
Fantia has reversed its decision to enforce stricter censorship on creator content after facing significant backlash from artists and creators. The platform initially demanded all works, including past submissions, be censored within five days, leading to widespread outrage and creators leaving the service. Fantia will revert to its previous policy while new standards are discussed with a legal authority.
YouTube says it's making AI-generated content labels more prominent—and to help you see them, here they are…
YouTube is implementing more prominent AI-generated content labels to help users distinguish between real and AI-altered videos. The new labels will appear below the video player for long-form content and as an overlay for short-form videos. YouTube will also use new internal signals for auto-detection, though creators can still update disclosure statuses.
Fantia enforces stricter censorship guidelines while opening up to global audience
Fantia is implementing stricter censorship and mosaic standards for creators, effective May 25th, 2026, which will also apply retroactively to previously published works. This policy change coincides with the platform's major translation update, adding English, Chinese, and Korean support to attract a global audience. The platform faces potential creator exodus due to the demanding new guidelines and the manual effort required for compliance.
Evening Crowdfunding
Kickstarter has apologized for its recently criticized adult content rules, admitting they "botched it" and betrayed the platform's "f*ck the establishment spirit." The company is addressing backlash regarding its policy changes.
GTA Online got a hantavirus cruise mission, but Rockstar quickly contained its spread
Rockstar Games quickly removed a mission from Grand Theft Auto Online that featured a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship. The mission was apparently not widely experienced by players before its removal.
Steam overhauls tags, removing 'NSFW' & 'Mature' for being too general
Steam has overhauled its tagging system, removing general tags like 'NSFW' and 'Mature' to improve clarity and discoverability. New, more specific tags such as 'Bullet Heaven', 'Espionage', and 'Capybara' have been added to better categorize games.
Steam's NSFW and Mature tags ditched by Valve in favour of "more descriptive" ones like Sexual Content and Gore, as part of wider revamp
Valve has revamped Steam's tagging system, replacing broad tags like NSFW and Mature with more descriptive ones such as Sexual Content and Gore. This change aims to improve game discovery and recommendations by providing clearer categorizations for genres and themes, with 17 new tags added and 28 removed.
LinkedIn doesn't want your AI slop anymore
LinkedIn is reportedly cracking down on AI-generated content, deeming it not only lazy but also uninteresting. This move suggests a shift in the platform's approach to user-generated material, prioritizing quality and engagement over automated output.
YouTube's AI deepfake detection tool is now available to all creators 18 and older
YouTube has made its AI-powered deepfake detection tool available to all creators aged 18 and older, including new users. This move aims to improve content moderation and transparency on the platform regarding manipulated media.
X, a bastion for hate, claims it will reduce hate content in the UK
X, formerly known as Twitter, has committed to Ofcom that it will improve its review of reported posts to reduce hate content within the UK. This move comes as the platform faces scrutiny over its content moderation policies.
Morning Metaverse
The FCC has reportedly angered small carriers by allowing AT&T and Starlink to purchase EchoStar spectrum. Separately, Kickstarter has allegedly been forced to ban NSFW content due to demands from Stripe. YouTube is also evolving its TV app.
Morning Metaverse
Pornhub is set to become accessible again for some users in the UK following a ban. The BBC reported on the developments, indicating a potential shift in content access policies for the platform within the region.
Fortnite Now Hides D4vd Emotes by Default, Though Fans Say Epic Should Scrub All Content From the Game
Epic Games has hidden two in-game emotes in Fortnite that feature music by artist D4vd. Players are calling for the developer to remove all such content from the game entirely.
Instagram's recommendation algorithm will penalize 'unoriginal' photo and carousel posts
Meta's Instagram is updating its recommendation algorithm to penalize 'unoriginal' photo and carousel posts. Content creators, particularly meme makers, who do not make significant edits to their material may experience reduced reach on the platform.
"I Can't Fight This" - Popular Pokémon YouTube Channel Is No More After Nintendo's Copyright Strikes
A popular Pokémon YouTube channel, PokéNational Geographic, has been shut down by Nintendo due to copyright strikes. The channel creator, Elious, received four notices for animated videos that allegedly used Nintendo's copyrighted content, leading to the channel's removal under YouTube's three-strike policy. Elious plans to continue creating animations on an alternative channel, but they will no longer be Pokémon-related.
Epic Games commits to "immediate self-service refunds" for D4vd cosmetics after murder charge, but not to removing them entirely
Epic Games has announced immediate self-service refunds for all Fortnite cosmetics purchased from the artist D4vd, following his arrest on murder and child pornography charges. While refunds will be processed, Epic Games has not yet committed to removing the D4vd-related items from the game entirely.
In Kiln, Creating "Weird Little Guys" Is More Important Censorship
Kiln director Derek Brand discusses Double Fine's approach to player creativity and content moderation in the pottery party brawler. The game prioritizes enabling players to express themselves, offering moderation tools as options rather than limitations. Brand also touches on the game's development, its multiplayer-focused nature, and the support from Microsoft and Rare.
Fortnite Player Gets Banned for Having a Real Name That Triggers Discord Bots | HappyGamer
A Fortnite player named Klancy was banned from the official Fortnite Discord server because their username, 'Klantcy,' triggered an automated moderation bot. The bot flagged the first four letters of the username, 'Klan,' as offensive content without considering context, leading to an instant ban. This incident highlights broader issues with aggressive automated moderation systems in online gaming communities and the challenges of appealing such decisions.
