The social media platform OnlyFans — which is used predominantly as a pay-to-play pornography site — has reversed course after briefly planning to ban “sexually explicit conduct.”
Earlier this week, the U.K.-based subscription platform updated its policies, stating it was blocking content creators from uploading videos and photos containing “sexually explicit conduct,” citing financial partners taking issue with the pornography. The banks argued the site doesn’t have a verification system strong enough to ensure the content on its platform is legal.
From our previous report:
It’s not a coincidence the updated rules from OnlyFans follows a decision by Mastercard to require thorough age verification and obvious consent of every person in all content on the platform and others like it.
In mid-April, Mastercard updated its policy on “illegal adult content,” stating partnered sites hosting explicit content must establish “documented age and identity verification for all people depicted and those uploading the content,” a “content review process prior to publication,” a “complaint resolution process that addresses illegal or non-consensual content within seven business days,” and an “appeals process allowing for any person depicted to request their content be removed.”
Dawn Hawkins, CEO of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, said in a statement shared with Faithwire that she is “glad to see OnlyFans work to move away from pornography on its platform.”
“With many reports of filmed child sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and other non-consensually recorded or uploaded sex acts being sold on its website, OnlyFans has more than a PR problem to attract investors,” she said. “It has a potential criminal problem.”
Hawkins went on to say OnlyFans is “finally being seen for what it is — a website set up solely to profit from the exploitation of vulnerable persons who then pay the high price of psychological, emotional, and physical harm that the sex industry imparts.”
On Wednesday, though, the platform said it “secured assurances necessary to support our diverse creator community,” according to Variety, suggesting it has established new banking agreements to pay OnlyFans creators.
“Thank you to everyone for making your voices heard,” the company stated. We have secured assurances necessary to support our diverse creator community and have suspended the planned October 1 policy change. OnlyFans stands for inclusion and we will continue to provide a home for all creators.”
A spokesperson declined to tell media outlets which bank or banks with which it has established partnerships.
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