alt text: A person using a MacBook Pro to play Rocket League on Steam.
A recent report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) criticizes Valve’s inadequate moderation of its Steam platform, highlighting the widespread presence of extremist content. The report, utilizing an AI tool called HateVision, analyzed over 458 million profiles and 610 million comments, uncovering millions of instances of hate speech and imagery, including white supremacist and anti-Semitic content.
Hate Speech and Imagery Rampant on Steam
The ADL’s analysis revealed a disturbing trend of hate speech and imagery within the Steam community. Millions of examples of white supremacist and anti-Semitic visuals were identified, along with numerous posts, keywords, and avatars promoting violent extremism. The report specifically mentioned copypastas containing swastikas and slurs as common occurrences. Pepe the Frog, often depicted in Nazi regalia, emerged as the most frequently used icon in these hateful posts. Customizable profile images on Steam also contribute to the problem, providing a platform for the dissemination of extremist imagery.
ADL Calls for Action from Valve
The ADL urges Valve to significantly overhaul its platform governance, implementing stricter policies and practices to combat the proliferation of hate and extremism on Steam. The report emphasizes the need for a more proactive and systematic approach to moderation, addressing the underlying issues that allow such content to flourish.
Valve’s History of Hands-Off Moderation
Valve’s moderation practices have drawn criticism in the past, particularly concerning its hands-off approach to content regulation. In 2018, Valve implemented moderation for its forums and game hubs, but this action was limited to user-reported posts. The company has consistently maintained a laissez-faire stance regarding the types of games published on Steam, prioritizing developer autonomy and player choice. This approach has fueled controversies, including the listing of the game Active Shooter, where players assume the role of a mass shooter. Valve’s policy of permitting any game that isn’t “illegal” or “straight up trolling” further underscores its reluctance to regulate content.
alt text: A screenshot of a Steam blog post discussing content moderation policies.
Previous Reports Highlight Ongoing Issues
Numerous reports over the years have documented the negative consequences of Valve’s lax moderation policies. In 2018, the Center for Investigative Reporting identified 173 Steam groups glorifying mass shooters, while Motherboard uncovered hate-based curators on the platform. Although Valve has selectively removed some groups and Nazi-related content, the ADL criticizes these actions as ad hoc and insufficient to address the systemic issue of extremism on Steam. In 2022, a U.S. senator even addressed a letter to Gabe Newell, Valve’s owner, expressing concern over the proliferation of white supremacist content on the platform.
Steam’s Focus on Other Improvements
Recently, Steam has prioritized enhancing game developer experiences and refining review systems, focusing on features like the validity of top comments and indicating whether reviews are based on Steam Deck or PC gameplay. However, these improvements have not addressed the critical issue of extremist content moderation.
Valve Remains Silent
As of this writing, Valve has not issued a public response to the ADL report. The company’s continued silence raises concerns about its commitment to addressing the serious issue of extremism within the Steam community.
ADL Report
RockPaperShotgun Article
Valve Blog Post
Center for Investigative Reporting Blog Post
Motherboard Article
Vice Article
