This article examines the role of payment intermediaries in regulating the platformized adult industry and demonstrates how the adult industry responds to their power and the rules they set. Based on 16 expert interviews, fieldwork at 3 industry conferences, and document analysis of rules, content guidelines, terms, and conditions, the author teases out the intricate interplay between credit card networks, payment processors, and adult platforms. Visa and Mastercard’s rules, enforced by payment processors and implemented by platforms, create a selective, private ordering of permissible content that surpasses legal requirements. This process is impelled by the brand safety and commercial interests of global corporations, without accountability to the industry or consideration for sex workers’ needs. The article calls for the need to hold payment intermediaries as de facto regulators of online sexual commerce and key actors in platform governance accountable toward the industry and workers they impact.

中文翻译：

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“控制通往黄金城的钥匙”：支付生态系统以及成人网络摄像头和基于订阅的粉丝平台的监管


本文探讨了支付中介机构在监管平台化成人行业中的作用，并展示了成人行业如何应对他们的权力和他们制定的规则。根据 16 次专家访谈、3 场行业会议的实地考察以及对规则、内容指南、条款和条件的文件分析，作者梳理了信用卡网络、支付处理商和成人平台之间错综复杂的相互作用。Visa 和 Mastercard 的规则由支付处理商执行并由平台实施，对允许的内容进行选择性的、私密的排序，超越了法律要求。这个过程是由全球公司的品牌安全和商业利益推动的，没有对行业负责，也没有考虑性工作者的需求。文章呼吁需要让支付中介机构作为在线易的实际监管机构和平台治理的关键参与者，对他们所影响的行业和工人负责。