A recent investigation has reportedly brought to light a series of nonconsensual content-sharing incidents on the adult platform OnlyFans, raising serious legal and ethical concerns.
What Happened: Based on an investigation, Reuters reported that OnlyFans, known for its adult content offerings, is reportedly facing over 120 police complaints. The complaints allege that explicit content was shared on the site without the consent of the individuals involved, with some cases being as serious as rape.
Documents from 56 law enforcement agencies were obtained by Reuters through public records requests, revealing complaints about nonconsensual explicit content on OnlyFans. The investigation included interviews with law enforcement, legal experts, and victims, which corroborated the findings.
Most of the complaints were filed by women who stated that while they consented to the creation of the content, they did not approve its distribution. In some cases, the content was further shared on other social media platforms and porn websites.
Victims have recounted traumatic experiences, with some accusing the platform of profiting from their “biggest trauma.”
Responding to Reuters, OnlyFans spokesperson stated that the platform takes decisive action against “bad actors,” including content removal, user bans, and cooperation with law enforcement.
A spokeswoman of OnlyFans informed Benzinga that the platform requires proof of identification and consent from all individuals featured in the uploaded content to prevent nonconsensual intimate images.
"We know the legal identity of all our creators and work closely with law enforcement around the world. This approach means OnlyFans is an extremely hostile environment for anyone seeking to share NCII. In the few examples where bad actors have misused our platform to share NCII, we removed the content swiftly, banned the user, and actively supported investigations and prosecutions,” the spokeswoman said.
Why It Matters: The scandal comes at a time when OnlyFans has been actively trying to rebrand itself and distance itself from its adult content image. OnlyFans CEO Keily Blair recently emphasized the platform’s diverse content offerings beyond adult material, to create a ‘safe space’ on the internet.
Moreover, the platform’s association with adult content has influenced decisions by high-profile personalities, such as rapper Snoop Dogg, who turned down a $100 million deal to join OnlyFans, citing personal reasons.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with a comment from OnlyFans on Reuters’ report regarding non-consensual content sharing on the platform
Image via Shutterstock
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