Collective Shout: Difference between revisions
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{{ | {{CompanyCargo | ||
| | |Description= | ||
| | |Founded=2009 | ||
| | |Industry=Activism, Lobbying | ||
| | |Logo=Collective Shout logo.png | ||
| | |ParentCompany= | ||
|Type=Private | |||
|Website=https://www.collectiveshout.org/ | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''{{wplink|Collective Shout}}''' is an Australian activist group founded in 2009 by its current director, {{Wplink|Melinda Tankard Reist}}. It identifies itself as: "''A grassroots movement challenging the objectification of women and sexualization of girls in media, advertising and popular culture''".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Collective Shout |url=https://www.collectiveshout.org/faq |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250720102043/https://www.collectiveshout.org/faq |archive-date=20 Jul 2025 |access-date=7 Aug 2025 |work=Collective Shout}}</ref> | |||
[[ | The group became prominent in 2025 after their campaign against payment processors caused online gaming platforms [[Steam]] and [[Itch.io]] to de-list hundreds of games that are believed to victimize women.<ref>{{cite web|first=Josh|last=Taylor|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/29/mastercard-visa-backlash-adult-games-removed-online-stores-steam-itchio-ntwnfb|title=Mastercard and Visa face backlash after hundreds of adult games removed from online stores Steam and Itch.io|website=The Guardian|date=2025-07-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216030319/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/29/mastercard-visa-backlash-adult-games-removed-online-stores-steam-itchio-ntwnfb |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref> While the advocacy is based in Australia, their movement has had an impact on other countries. {{Citation needed}} | ||
Some media outlets have expressed concern that the organization's censorship of adult content in the video game industry negatively impacts creative freedom.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farokhmanesh |first=Megan |date=30 Jul 2025 |title=Gamers Are Furious About the Censorship of NSFW Games—and They’re Fighting Back |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250823055403/https://www.wired.com/story/gamers-are-furious-about-the-censorship-of-nsfw-games-and-theyre-fighting-back |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250823055403/https://www.wired.com/story/gamers-are-furious-about-the-censorship-of-nsfw-games-and-theyre-fighting-back/ |archive-date=23 Aug 2025 |access-date=23 Aug 2025 |work=WIRED}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dodds |first=Io |date=18 Aug 2025 |title=‘Financial companies shouldn’t be in this position’: How more than 20,000 NSFW video games fell under censorship |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/video-game-censorship-visa-mastercard-b2809867.html |website=The Independent |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260210210840/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/video-game-censorship-visa-mastercard-b2809867.html |archive-date=10 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Marley |date=2 Aug 2025 |title=This Advocacy Group is Threatening Video Games as We Know It |url=https://www.cbr.com/collective-shout-video-game-censorship/ |website=CBR |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113150416/https://www.cbr.com/collective-shout-video-game-censorship/ |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref> | |||
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==Incidents== | ==Incidents== | ||
===Protest against | ===Protest against Grand Theft Auto V (''2014'')=== | ||
In 2014, the group started a petition against ''{{Wplink|Grand Theft Auto V}}'' | In 2014, the group started a petition against ''{{Wplink|Grand Theft Auto V}}'' it read, "It's a game that encourages players to murder women for entertainment. The incentive is to commit sexual violence against women, then abuse or kill them to proceed or get 'health' points." <ref name=":0" /> The video game was banned from two Australian department stores later that year.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30328314|title='Sexually violent' GTA 5 banned from Australian stores|website=BBC|date=4 Dec 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260216030420/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30328314 |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
=== | ===Lobbyist campaign against payment processors (''2025-07'')=== | ||
{{Main|Valve allows ISPs and payment processors to censor content on Steam|Valve complying with ISPs and payment processors}} | {{Main|Valve allows ISPs and payment processors to censor content on Steam|Valve complying with ISPs and payment processors}} | ||
In July 2025, Collective Shout launched a public campaign "demanding credit card companies and PayPal block payments" for games on Steam and Itch.io.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Bita |first=Natasha |date=15 Jul 2025 |title=Child safety group finds 500 online 'games' role-playing rape and incest |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/education/child-safety-group-finds-500-online-games-roleplaying-rape-and-incest/news-story/b30c59f85ff22934844269cb3beff538 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/koDk8 |archive-date=18 Jul 2025 |access-date=18 Jul 2025 |work=The Australian}}</ref><ref name="RPSCS">{{Cite news |last=Evans-Thirlwell |first=Edwin |date=22 Jul 2025 |title=Anti-porn group who tried to ban GTA 5 claim credit for Steam's sex game crackdown |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/anti-porn-group-who-tried-to-ban-gta-5-claim-credit-for-steams-sex-game-crackdown |access-date=23 Jul 2025 |work=Rock Paper Shotgun}}</ref> | In July 2025, Collective Shout launched a public campaign "demanding credit card companies and PayPal block payments" for games on Steam and Itch.io.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Bita |first=Natasha |date=15 Jul 2025 |title=Child safety group finds 500 online 'games' role-playing rape and incest |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/education/child-safety-group-finds-500-online-games-roleplaying-rape-and-incest/news-story/b30c59f85ff22934844269cb3beff538 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/koDk8 |archive-date=18 Jul 2025 |access-date=18 Jul 2025 |work=The Australian}}</ref><ref name="RPSCS">{{Cite news |last=Evans-Thirlwell |first=Edwin |date=22 Jul 2025 |title=Anti-porn group who tried to ban GTA 5 claim credit for Steam's sex game crackdown |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/anti-porn-group-who-tried-to-ban-gta-5-claim-credit-for-steams-sex-game-crackdown |access-date=23 Jul 2025 |work=Rock Paper Shotgun |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251229024622/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/anti-porn-group-who-tried-to-ban-gta-5-claim-credit-for-steams-sex-game-crackdown |archive-date=29 Dec 2025}}</ref> Itch.io responded by de-indexing games with explicit content on 24 July 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itch.io/updates/update-on-nsfw-content|title=Update on NSFW content|website=Itch.io|date=24 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260129171706/https://itch.io/updates/update-on-nsfw-content |archive-date=29 Jan 2026}}</ref> On July 31, they re-indexed free games with explicit content.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itch.io/t/5149036/reindexing-adult-nsfw-content|title=Reindexing adult NSFW content|website=Itch.io|date=31 Jul 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260130214640/https://itch.io/t/5149036/reindexing-adult-nsfw-content |archive-date=30 Jan 2026}}</ref> | ||
Itch.io responded by de-indexing games with explicit content on July | |||
De-indexing continued on 10 August, this time of games with explicit content and of LGBTQ+ games without explicit content.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lazine |first=Mira |title='I feel violated' - Queer Creators Lose Livelihoods in Itch.io Bans |url=https://transnews.network/p/i-feel-violated-queer-creators-lose-livelihoods-in-itch-io-bans |website=Trans News Network |date=9 Aug 2025 |access-date=24 Aug 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819013331/https://transnews.network/p/i-feel-violated-queer-creators-lose-livelihoods-in-itch-io-bans |archive-date=19 Aug 2025}}</ref> | |||
The group claims to have lobbied payment processors after sending 3,000 emails to Steam and receiving no response.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steam at Collective Shout |url=https://www.collectiveshout.org/tags/steam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250720103220/https://www.collectiveshout.org/tags/steam |archive-date=20 Jul 2025 |access-date=7 Aug 2025 |website=Collective Shout}}</ref><ref name="CBCCards">{{Cite web |last=Ore |first=Jonathan |title=How an anti-porn lobby on payment processors censored thousands of video games |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/steam-itch-takedowns-credit-cards-1.7597563 |website=CBC |date=31 Jul 2025 |access-date=21 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128053221/https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/steam-itch-takedowns-credit-cards-1.7597563 |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref> | |||
Alongside explicit content, the group also expressed a desire to have ''{{Wplink|Detroit: Become Human}}'' de-listed from gaming platforms for purported depictions of physical abuse against women and children.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barbe |first=Rebecca |date=6 Dec 2017 |title=Stop video game Detroit: Become Human, depicting child abuse being sold in Australia |url=https://www.change.org/p/the-hon-christian-porter-mp-stop-video-game-depicting-child-abuse-being-sold-in-australia |url-status=live |access-date=16 Aug 2025 |website=change.org |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251113202032/https://www.change.org/p/the-hon-christian-porter-mp-stop-video-game-depicting-child-abuse-being-sold-in-australia |archive-date=13 Nov 2025}}</ref> | |||
The owner of the journalism website ''{{Wplink|Vice (magazine)|Vice}}'' allegedly instructed certain articles related to Collective Shout to be removed from their website due to "controversial subject matter." The author of the articles and several of her co-workers resigned soon afterwards in protest.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Corsetti |first=Adam |title=After payment processors prompt removal of Steam games, journalists investigating the censorship resign |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/After-payment-processors-prompt-removal-of-Steam-games-journalists-investigating-the-censorship-resign.1063259.0.html |website=notebookcheck.net |date=21 Jul 2025 |access-date=21 Apr 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114123535/https://www.notebookcheck.net/After-payment-processors-prompt-removal-of-Steam-games-journalists-investigating-the-censorship-resign.1063259.0.html |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref> | |||
The owner of the journalism website ''{{Wplink|Vice (magazine)|Vice}}'' allegedly instructed certain articles related to Collective Shout to be removed from their website due to "controversial subject matter." The author of the articles and several of her co-workers resigned soon afterwards in protest.<ref>{{ | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[Steam]] | *[[Steam]] | ||
*[[Itch.io]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Collective Shout]] | |||
[[Category: | |||
Latest revision as of 01:13, 22 April 2026
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 |
| Legal Structure | Private |
| Industry | Activism, Lobbying |
| Also known as | |
| Official website | https://www.collectiveshout.org/ |
Collective Shout is an Australian activist group founded in 2009 by its current director, Melinda Tankard Reist. It identifies itself as: "A grassroots movement challenging the objectification of women and sexualization of girls in media, advertising and popular culture".[1]
The group became prominent in 2025 after their campaign against payment processors caused online gaming platforms Steam and Itch.io to de-list hundreds of games that are believed to victimize women.[2] While the advocacy is based in Australia, their movement has had an impact on other countries. [citation needed]
Some media outlets have expressed concern that the organization's censorship of adult content in the video game industry negatively impacts creative freedom.[3][4][5]
Incidents
[edit | edit source]Protest against Grand Theft Auto V (2014)
[edit | edit source]In 2014, the group started a petition against Grand Theft Auto V it read, "It's a game that encourages players to murder women for entertainment. The incentive is to commit sexual violence against women, then abuse or kill them to proceed or get 'health' points." [6] The video game was banned from two Australian department stores later that year.[6]
Lobbyist campaign against payment processors (2025-07)
[edit | edit source]In July 2025, Collective Shout launched a public campaign "demanding credit card companies and PayPal block payments" for games on Steam and Itch.io.[7][8] Itch.io responded by de-indexing games with explicit content on 24 July 2025.[9] On July 31, they re-indexed free games with explicit content.[10]
De-indexing continued on 10 August, this time of games with explicit content and of LGBTQ+ games without explicit content.[11]
The group claims to have lobbied payment processors after sending 3,000 emails to Steam and receiving no response.[12][13]
Alongside explicit content, the group also expressed a desire to have Detroit: Become Human de-listed from gaming platforms for purported depictions of physical abuse against women and children.[14]
The owner of the journalism website Vice allegedly instructed certain articles related to Collective Shout to be removed from their website due to "controversial subject matter." The author of the articles and several of her co-workers resigned soon afterwards in protest.[15]
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Collective Shout". Collective Shout. Archived from the original on 20 Jul 2025. Retrieved 7 Aug 2025.
- ↑ Taylor, Josh (2025-07-28). "Mastercard and Visa face backlash after hundreds of adult games removed from online stores Steam and Itch.io". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 Feb 2026.
- ↑ Farokhmanesh, Megan (30 Jul 2025). "Gamers Are Furious About the Censorship of NSFW Games—and They're Fighting Back". WIRED. Archived from the original on 23 Aug 2025. Retrieved 23 Aug 2025.
- ↑ Dodds, Io (18 Aug 2025). "'Financial companies shouldn't be in this position': How more than 20,000 NSFW video games fell under censorship". The Independent. Archived from the original on 10 Feb 2026.
- ↑ Hughes, Marley (2 Aug 2025). "This Advocacy Group is Threatening Video Games as We Know It". CBR. Archived from the original on 13 Nov 2025.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "'Sexually violent' GTA 5 banned from Australian stores". BBC. 4 Dec 2014. Archived from the original on 16 Feb 2026.
- ↑ Bita, Natasha (15 Jul 2025). "Child safety group finds 500 online 'games' role-playing rape and incest". The Australian. Archived from the original on 18 Jul 2025. Retrieved 18 Jul 2025.
- ↑ Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin (22 Jul 2025). "Anti-porn group who tried to ban GTA 5 claim credit for Steam's sex game crackdown". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on 29 Dec 2025. Retrieved 23 Jul 2025.
- ↑ "Update on NSFW content". Itch.io. 24 Jul 2025. Archived from the original on 29 Jan 2026.
- ↑ "Reindexing adult NSFW content". Itch.io. 31 Jul 2025. Archived from the original on 30 Jan 2026.
- ↑ Lazine, Mira (9 Aug 2025). "'I feel violated' - Queer Creators Lose Livelihoods in Itch.io Bans". Trans News Network. Archived from the original on 19 Aug 2025. Retrieved 24 Aug 2025.
- ↑ "Steam at Collective Shout". Collective Shout. Archived from the original on 20 Jul 2025. Retrieved 7 Aug 2025.
- ↑ Ore, Jonathan (31 Jul 2025). "How an anti-porn lobby on payment processors censored thousands of video games". CBC. Archived from the original on 28 Jan 2026. Retrieved 21 Apr 2026.
- ↑ Barbe, Rebecca (6 Dec 2017). "Stop video game Detroit: Become Human, depicting child abuse being sold in Australia". change.org. Archived from the original on 13 Nov 2025. Retrieved 16 Aug 2025.
- ↑ Corsetti, Adam (21 Jul 2025). "After payment processors prompt removal of Steam games, journalists investigating the censorship resign". notebookcheck.net. Archived from the original on 14 Nov 2025. Retrieved 21 Apr 2026.