Mastercard Revises Standards — Extends Coverage to AI and Synthetic Images to Prevent Illegal or Brand‑Damaging Transactions 

Mastercard’s revised Rules and Standards, effective 24 February 2026, clarify and strengthen the policy on illegal or brand‑damaging transactions. The update explicitly extends the “unacceptable content” rule beyond real‑life images to include digitally altered, AI‑generated and other synthetic images — including unauthorized synthetic depictions of a real person’s likeness. Mastercard will incorporate these changes into Chapter 5 (Acquiring Activity) of the Mastercard Rules. 

What’s new (key points from GLB 13267): 

The Mastercard Rules (Chapter 5, section 5.12.7) now prohibits the sale of images — whether captured in person, digitally altered, or generated by AI — that are clearly offensive and lack genuine artistic value.  

 Examples include nonconsensual sexual content, sexual abuse of children, nonconsensual mutilation, bestiality, and unauthorised AI-generated depictions of real people  

Why this matters: 

• • Gives issuers, acquirers and network partners clearer, more actionable guidance for identifying and blocking risky transactions involving AI or synthetic content. 
  • Helps reduce legal, regulatory and reputational exposure by making explicit that synthetic and AI content fall within existing unacceptable content rules. 
  • Strengthens cardholder protections and promotes consistent risk controls across portfolios. 

Next steps / where to find more information: 

• • The marked‑up revision is in bulletin GLB 13267 
  • Mastercard will incorporate the revised Standards into the next edition of the Mastercard Rules manual (Chapter 5 — Acquiring Activity) available on the Technical Resource Center on Mastercard Connect.