Since its inception in 2003, Steam has evolved into one of the largest digital platforms for PC games. However, the aggregation of such a vast number of players has inadvertently led to real-world repercussions. Virginia Senator Mark Warner has now accused Steam's parent company, Valve, of permitting hate speech, white-supremacist material, and even comments lauding terrorists to proliferate unchecked. Warner made his concerns public by sharing his letter with Bloomberg, which was addressed to Valve co-founder Gabe Newell. Drawing from a recent report by the Anti-Defamation League's Center for Extremism, Warner asserts that Steam has transformed into 'an unsafe environment for teenagers and young adults to buy and play online games.' He further warns that if Valve does not tackle these issues, it will facilitate the dissemination and establishment of harmful ideologies among the younger generation.
The report cited by Warner reportedly documented 1.83 million instances of extremist or hateful content on Steam. Examples include Nazi iconography, tributes to individual terrorists, and expressions of support for terrorist organizations like ISIS. Earlier this year, a Turkish teenager orchestrated a knife attack with an individual he met on Steam, executing his plan in August while donning a neo-Nazi symbol. In his letter, Warner pledged 'more rigorous scrutiny from the federal government,' accusing Steam of 'abetting hate groups in their activities that unquestionably endanger Americans.' The senator also sought details on Valve's moderation strategies and its dedication to combating hate content. Earlier this year, Steam preemptively adjusted its online game listings in response to an impending California law. In alignment with the law set to take effect in 2025, Steam now explicitly clarifies that players are acquiring a license for the games, rather than owning them outright.
Source link: https://www.gamespot.com
