[kapildev]

Does anyone know why companies like VISA and Mastercard try to distance themselves from NSFW websites? Is it because there is a large group of people that try to punish these companies when they engage with these companies? If not, why would they try to give up money they would otherwise make easily?

[swatcoder]

Mostly: unwanted consumer behavior. Refunds and chargebacks are horrific in certain industries, and it's just not worth it to participate.

Long ago, there was also a principled moralist influence among some board members but the financial world has become so large and purely capital-centric that principles have a hard time fighting the wind, no matter whose they are and what position they stand for.