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Valve must address swastikas and other hate on Steam, writes US senator in a letter to Gabe Newell (www.rockpapershotgun.com)

submitted 19 hours ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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In the letter, Democrat senator Mark Warner argues that Valve's content moderation doesn't meet industry standards, and says he wants Valve to "crack down on the rampant proliferation of hate-based content".

The exact hateful stuff he's talking about was highlighted in that report by the Anti-Defamation League last week. Its many findings include swastikas in profile pictures, antisemitic images such as the "happy merchant", and instances of Pepe the frog, a meme appropriated by the far right that - let's be honest - has never washed the stink off. Steam is "inundated with hate" as a result of these findings, say the anti-discrimination group.

While the simmering bubbles of fascism won't be news to the average Steam user (or average internet user, to be frank) that doesn't mean we ought to get complacent about them. It's proof, says senator Warner, that Valve is lacking good moderation.

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[–] [email protected] 35 points 18 hours ago (5 children)

Steam has had, for a long time already, a massive far-right community. Browse its communities and you'll see the most deranged racist, transphobic, homophobic posters. The entire SweetBaby harassment campaign started - and as far as I know, is still going - thanks to a huge Steam curator, and there are even more "Anti-Woke" groups explicitly dedicated to harassing minorities. Last year, Hogwarts Legacy had a intense campaign and won the Best Game on Steam Deck award due to the brigading of these "anti-woke" fans - and you most likely can still look into its community to witness their efforts - and there are still those on the Tabletop Simulator communities that are outspoken about the devs "bending the knee" by removing global chat from their game in an effort to reduce harassment against queer people.

Basically, its a cesspool of the worst gaming has to offer, but none of this affects Valve's bottom line, who continues their usual business practice: Don't interfere and do the minimum amount of work. Is it illegal? Perhaps not. But their inaction makes it clear that this is a safe spot for hateful conduct.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Also have noticed the "anti-woke" "curator".

It's simply amazing. Imagine not buying a game because the protagonist is a woman. If you don't want to play Control, you're missing out.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 14 hours ago

just a cesspool of rizzless dudes trying to impress other rizzless dudes with how edgy they can be by shrinking their worldview.

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