“We have to have free human expression in some capacity”: Patreon CEO shares frustrations about getting adult content past payment processors
Patreon CEO Jack Conte has expressed frustration about the structural challenges payment processors impose on digital platforms hosting adult content. Stripe and Mastercard, major payment networks, enforce strict content policies by threatening to revoke payment processing services, leaving platforms with minimal leverage to resist their demands.
Conte emphasized the importance of supporting artists operating in mainstream and non-mainstream spaces while navigating restrictive payment processor policies. He noted that payment processors effectively control content standards across platforms without direct accountability to creators or users, creating a significant bottleneck for free expression and platform autonomy.
His comments provide context for recent content moderation crackdowns affecting Steam and Itch.io, both of which have implemented stricter adult content policies. These shifts reflect broader industry pressure stemming from payment processor restrictions. The situation highlights a fundamental power imbalance: payment processors control essential transaction infrastructure, giving them outsized influence over what content can be distributed on digital platforms.