Payment Processors Emerge as the Internet's Hidden Content Arbiters

Payment processors like Stripe now wield unprecedented power over digital content, effectively acting as internet censors rather than neutral service providers. This Kickstarter policy shift mirrors simultaneous crackdowns on Steam and Itch.io, revealing a troubling pattern where financial intermediaries—not platforms—determine what creators can sell online. The trend raises critical questions about digital speech rights and whether payment infrastructure should have authority over creative expression.