Mastercard, Facing Pressure Over Role In Global Censorship Effort, Agrees To Major Change

Afterbeingamajorpartofaglobalnetworkofcompaniesthatcrackeddownonconservativespeechinthenameofso-calledmisinformation,creditcardgiantMastercardiscommittingthatitwillnotmakemarketingorbrandingdecisionsbasedonthird-parties,accordingtoemailsobtainedbyTheDailyWire.  TheannouncementcomesafteragroupofinvestorsrepresentedbytheAllianceDefendingFreedomwerepreppingaresolutiontargetingthecreditcardcompanyoveritsinvolvementwiththeGlobalAllianceforResponsibleMediaorGARM.Mastercardwillreleaseanewcompanypolicyinthecomingmonthsmakingclearthatthird-partyviewswillnotinfluencebrandingormarketingdecisions,thecompanytoldtheAllianceDefendingFreedomthisweek. GARM,whichdisbandedinAugust2024,amonthafteritsleaderswerecalledintotestifytoCongress,wasanorganizationfoundedbytheWorldFederationofAdvertiserstoensurethatcompaniesonlyadvertisedwithmediaoutletsdeemed“responsible.”Inthenameofthisgoal,GARMtargetedpodcasterslikeJoeRogan,