Patreon to deploy tools to help adult creators meet new Mastercard standards – TechCrunch

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Remember when OnlyFans said it would ban explicit content, endangering the livelihoods of its creators, then suspended that ban less than a week later? Even though Patreon’s guidelines for adult content are much more limited than those of OnlyFans, the changing standards of credit card companies like Mastercard are affecting how its creators can make money online.

As part of its quarterly Creators political engagement program (CPEP), which invites creators to engage with Patreon’s policy team, Patreon wrote in a blog post that it will deploy tools to help its adult creators meet the new Mastercard standards. These standards, which entered into force on October 1, were cited as one of the many potential reasons for OnlyFans’ potential short-lived porn ban, although founder Tim Stokley banks blamed. Mastercard’s impending requirements involve documentation of consent (verifying that everyone involved in adult content is 18 years of age and over and consents to distribution), as well as verification of age and identity (requiring creators that they provide a government-issued ID). Patreon will require creators to adhere to these guidelines for new and existing posts.

Currently, Patreon allows certain types of NSFW content behind paywalls, such as “works depicting real people naked in sexual contexts”, animations or illustrations of nudity and sexual encounters, and “audio content that features simulated sexual interactions”. But it blatantly bans pornographic material and “sexual services”.

The OnlyFans debacle was just the latest threat to the livelihoods of online sex workers, who have been repeatedly distorted. Patreon suppressed NSFW content in 2017, citing pressure from payment partners. While Patreon said porn is never allowed, its guidelines were previously less stringent, allowing more flexibility for adult creators, some of whom made most of their income on the platform. So, like the recent backlash against OnlyFans, adult creators had protested the sudden suspension of many sex workers who depended on the platform for a living.

“At Patreon, you have been our friends in the tech world, you told us that. Imagine how difficult it must be for us to survive without the tools you had to start your business. Remember our fan bases have been a pillar of your community and have supported this same business, ”said a open letter Patreon said.

Patreon told TechCrunch in a written statement that anything discussed in blog post should be considered a work in progress. Patreon is organizing a direct tomorrow for creators to share their thoughts on adult content on the platform, as well as the potential for distributing designer coins, marking Patreon’s first potential investment in crypto. Given the experimental nature of the CPEP program, it’s unclear whether the platform will deploy additional protections for adult creators beyond its tools to help meet Mastercard standards.

“Patreon is committed to cultivating strong relationships with our creators and developing policies that support their business efforts,” the platform told TechCrunch. “The job is to constantly speak with our creators to ensure that our policies will continue to help them create independent and sustainable income.”

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