Sexual exploitation activists praise video game maker for removing sexually graphic content

From Dawn Hawkins, Senior VP & Executive Director, National Center on Sexual Exploitation, on Steam, one of the largest distributors of online games, has contacted several video game developers asking them to remove sexually graphic content in their games on Steam or face delisting.

Photo/Sawso.org

Here’s the statement:

Great news!

Steam, one of the largest distributors of online games, has contacted several videogame developers asking them to remove sexually graphic content in their games on Steam or face delisting!

This sudden change comes after a two year campaign by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation which included naming the company to the Dirty Dozen List, and most recently a heightened week-long grassroots campaign, which began on May 10th, where individuals from around the country requested Steam to remove sexually exploitive content.

Steam hosts approximately 35 million users who are children and teenagers, yet it also has hosted videogames that promote themes of sexual violence, exhibitionism, and rape, often depicting child-like characters in sexual scenes. It’s about time that the videogame community is responding to this #MeToo moment, and is distancing itself from gamified sexual violence.

We thank Steam for its decision, and encourage other gaming sites and stores to follow their lead! And we thank YOU for helping make it happen by signing petitions, sending emails, donating, and more!

You can help again by signing the petition, and tweeting the prepared tweet, on this page to let Steam know they made the right choice! We will have more ways for you to spread the word about this giant victory soon – thank you for making a difference!

Steam is a digital distribution platform developed by Valve Corporation, which offers digital rights management (DRM), multiplayer gaming, video streaming and social networking services. The Steam platform is the largest digital distribution platform for PC gaming, estimated in 2013 to have 75% of the market space. Steam’s headquarters is in Dallas, Texas.

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