The recent operational changes to CivitAI have been challenging, even disruptive. While the community has rightly expressed frustration, we must recognize that this issue goes far beyond CivitAI. Rather, this is a symptom of a larger, more serious systemic issue: the practice of “de-banking.” This process-in which financial institutions deny service to lawful, legally compliant businesses based on subjective criteria-is more than an inconvenience. It is a direct threat to the future and stability of AI art as a whole.
This financial exclusion happens when banks or payment processors refuse to associate themselves with sectors that they deem to be a “reputational risk” to their corporate image. The result: companies must sacrifice convenience and innovation in order to stay alive. This ongoing threat leaves platforms (including, but not limited to CivitAI) constantly vulnerable, forcing them to spend precious resources on operational and economic survival rather than on community growth and feature development. But fortunately, we have a way to fight back.
The Legislative Solution
A concrete legislative path exists to put an end to the practice of systemic de-banking once and for all: the Fair Access to Banking Act (FABA for short). This momentous bill has been brought before the Senate and the House of Representatives to guarantee businesses financial security based on objective risk assessment rather than subjective risk assessment.
The legislation is designed to compel financial institutions to base their service decisions on impartial, measurable, risk-based financial standards, not on political bias or subjective judgement against a lawful business.
For the AI art community, the passage of FABA would mean:
· Mandated Stability: Financial providers would be required, by law, to evaluate platforms solely on their financial compliance and stability, not on a blanket aversion to the nature of user-generated content.
· Freedom to Innovate: The removal of the “de-banking” threat would allow platforms to focus entirely on improving services, supporting creators, and building the future of AI.
· Economic Justice: It affirms the principle that if a business is legal, it and its employees deserve fair access to financial security.
Your Voice is Indispensable
Securing FABA is not an issue for someone else to solve. The urgency of this moment requires a mobilized and unified voice from every member of this community.
Financial stability is the bedrock of creative freedom. We cannot stand by and allow financial gatekeepers to dictate the terms of digital commerce and innovation. This is a definitive opportunity to champion the cause of economic fairness and protect legality for millions of content creators, AI art and beyond.
Take Action: Contact Your Representatives
The bill’s success depends on demonstrating widespread support to Congress. Your representatives in the House and Senate need to hear that this issue matters to their constituents. Every single call or email carries weight.
Here is exactly what you need to do to support the bill:
1. Identify Your Legislators: Find your U.S. Representative and two Senators using your residential zip code (official House and Senate websites have easy lookup tools)
2. Contact Them: A phone call to their local or D.C. office is the most effective method, but a concise, professional email is also critical.
3. What to Request: Urge them to cosponsor and actively champion FABA.
4. Reference the Bills: Mention the legislation by name, specifically referencing the bills (currently H.R. 987 in the House and S. 401 in the Senate, but please confirm the latest numbers before reaching out).
5. Key Message: Stress that supporting FABA is essential to preventing financial discrimination against lawful industries and secure the foundation for U.S. digital innovation.
The path to a stable, robust future for platforms like CivitAI is clear, but it requires our collective resolve. Do not delay. Your action today is a powerful investment in the survival and freedom of digital creation.