Censorship Timeline
A comprehensive history of digital censorship events and their impact on creators and users worldwide.
📊 Censorship Impact Overview
FOSTA-SESTA Passes
The Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) and Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) were signed into law, creating the first major exception to Section 230 protections. This led to the immediate shutdown of numerous platforms and increased censorship of sex worker resources.
Tumblr Adult Content Ban
Tumblr banned all adult content following pressure from Apple's App Store policies. This decision led to a massive exodus of users and creators, with the platform losing over 30% of its user base within months.
PayPal & Patreon Crackdowns
PayPal began aggressively terminating accounts of adult content creators. Patreon implemented stricter content policies, leading to the suspension of numerous creators who relied on the platform for their primary income.
OnlyFans Near-Ban Crisis
OnlyFans announced it would ban sexually explicit content due to pressure from banking partners and payment processors. The decision was reversed after massive backlash, but highlighted the precarious nature of creator platforms.
Gumroad Forces Content Purge
Gumroad was forced to ban NSFW content after payment processors threatened to cut off service. Thousands of digital artists lost their primary sales platform overnight, with many unable to recover their income.
DeviantArt & Patreon Restrictions Tighten
Both platforms implemented increasingly strict policies, removing content that had been acceptable for years. The automated systems frequently made errors, removing art that violated no policies. Appeals processes were slow and often unsuccessful.
Discord & Reddit Mass Community Closures
Major communication platforms began aggressive content moderation campaigns, closing thousands of communities and banning users for discussing or sharing adult content, even when it was legal and clearly marked.
UK Online Safety Act Enforcement Begins
The UK's Online Safety Act went into full effect, requiring platforms to implement age verification systems and remove "legal but harmful" content. Many platforms began blocking UK users rather than comply with the complex requirements.
State Age Verification Laws Cascade Effect
Following Louisiana's precedent, 18 states have now passed or implemented age verification laws requiring government ID to access adult content. Platforms are choosing to geoblock entire states rather than comply with invasive requirements.
Payment Processor Cartel Escalates Actions
Coordinated actions by Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal have intensified dramatically in August 2025. Key developments include forcing Steam to remove 200+ games, suspending Itch.io payments, and implementing "pre-approval" requirements that effectively create censorship by bureaucracy.
Steam & Itch.io Under Payment Processor Pressure
Major payment processors including Visa and Mastercard began pressuring gaming platforms to remove adult-rated content. Thousands of visual novels, dating sims, and mature indie games face removal, threatening entire creator communities.
Project 2025 Implementation Threat
With detailed plans to transform the FCC into a content regulator and eliminate Section 230 protections, Project 2025 represents the most comprehensive censorship plan in US history. Unlike other threats, many proposals could be implemented through executive action.
Learn From History
Understand the Patterns
Censorship always follows the same playbook: target the most vulnerable first, then expand to everyone else.
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