While living in a technologically advanced age comes with many advantages, it also comes with the rise of AI-generated content, and not all of that content is safe for work. That NSFW content is frequently created with the use of someone else’s likeness without their permission. Civitai is an AI model-sharing platform backed by Andreessen Horowitz that is best known for generating images and videos. Civitai has been a popular hub for producing porn without the consent of those whose likenesses are being used, and they’re now on the hunt for a new credit card processor. Their previous processor recently made the decision to halt services due to their discomfort with AI-generated pornography, leaving Civitai without a way to process credit card payments until they find a new processor with fewer qualms.

Founded in 2022 by Justin Maier, Civitai has focused on sharing AI models such as Stable Diffusion and Flux for image and video generation. It boasts a monthly access count of 23.2 million by April of 2024 and has utilized its own virtual currency, “Buzz,” for generating content. In spite of moderation efforts, it has also been a popular hub for creating non-consensual AI-generated pornography, including deepfakes of real people that were made without their knowledge or consent.

The company that had been processing credit card payments for Civitai made the decision to cease processing payments beginning May 23, 2025, due to their discomfort with enabling AI-generated explicit content. While the world of AI is still fairly new, many companies see AI platforms as high-risk, even when legal and moderated. Due to the processor pulling the metaphorical plug, Civitai users will no longer be able to buy “Buzz” or start new memberships after May 23, which has the potential to disrupt Civitai’s operations in a large way.

Civitai CEO Justin Maier’s response to the issue has been to begin the hunt for another way to process credit card payments, rather than to cease allowing the model-sharing platform to generate explicit content. Says Maier: “Our current provider recently informed us that they do not wish to support platforms that allow AI-generated explicit content. Rather than remove that category, we’re onboarding a specialist high-risk processor so that service to creators and customers continues without interruption. Out of respect for ongoing commercial negotiations, we’re not naming either the incumbent or the successor until the transition is complete.” Civitai’s plan to switch to an as-yet-unnamed high-risk processor and roll out both crypto and ACH checkout options within a week is more than a little ambitious. That said, Maier seems assured that Civitai will be able to continue operations in this way as long as needed until a high-risk processor can be brought online. The CEO has inferred that Civitai has a months-long runway with which to accomplish their goal while still maintaining not only community operations but creator payouts as well.

The reasoning behind the processor’s actions isn’t just moral qualms; there’s a legislative question at play as well. The “Take It Down” Act is a piece of proposed US legislation that is aimed at fighting back against the creation and sharing of non-consensual pornography, including AI-generated deepfakes. Should the legislation pass, it will require platforms that host and share such content to remove it rapidly. If the “Take It Down” Act passes and is put in place, it could result in stricter regulations for platforms like Civitai that would force enhanced moderation. People who have been victimized by AI-generated deepfakes will have better recourse for addressing privacy violations and seeking compensation for the damage done. For the industry as a whole, even if the act doesn’t pass, there is already increased scrutiny on AI platforms that has the potential to push payment processors to decline AI-generators as clients. With Civitai being a well-known source of AI-generated non-consensual pornography, the credit card processor choosing to cease operations is an obvious move they see as necessary in order to protect themselves from legal action in the event that the legislation passes.

Civitai may be the most popular source of AI-generated pornography, but it won’t be the only platform that will have to hop to if the “Take It Down” Act passes. One credit card processor may be betting on the legislation going through, but no one will know for sure until votes are taken and counted. Whichever way the dust settles on the “Take It Down” Act, the tension between technological innovation and ethical responsibility will still be far from resolved as the world continues to grow ever more digital.