Is it the return of the 'Pornhub case' where the SNS 'OnlyFans', which was even called 'the direct sales office of pornography', has decided to regulate sexual content?

OnlyFans, an SNS that allowed many sex workers to sell pornography directly due to relatively loose content restrictions, announced that it will 'partially regulate sexual content from October 1, 2021.' It is reported that 'the return of the Pornhub case' because it seems that the intentions of banks and credit card companies are behind this policy change.

Acceptable Use Policy — OnlyFans
https://onlyfans.com/aup

OnlyFans ban reveals Visa and Mastercard's power --Protocol — The people, power and politics of tech
https://www.protocol.com/policy/onlyfans-visa-mastercard

OnlyFans details the ban on “sexually explicit content” --The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/20/22634785/onlyfans-new-terms-of-service-policy-banning-sex-masturbation

OnlyFans, which started its service in 2016, is an SNS that has the advantage that creators can easily sell content directly. The fact that the number of users continued to grow at a pace of '150,000 people a day' against the backdrop of global demand for nesting due to the epidemic of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) was a hot topic, but OnlyFans is COVID-19. It also attracted attention as a service that allows pornographic actresses and strippers who have lost their jobs to sell pornography directly.

What is 'OnlyFans', an SNS where many sexual contents are posted? --GIGAZINE

While it is difficult to sell paid pornography online due to the rampant pirated editions, OnlyFans, which has been focusing on strengthening security and measures against copyright infringement in addition to relatively loose restrictions on pornography, has emerged as a 'direct sales place for pornography'. .. Pornography was a pillar of the service, but on August 20, 2021, OnlyFans announced that it would 'ban sexually explicit content.'

Acceptable Use Policy — OnlyFans
https://onlyfans.com/aup

The revised Terms of Use newly define 'sexually explicit acts' and prohibit the disclosure, promotion, and reference of content related to these acts from October 1, 2021. Sexually explicit acts are not only general sexual intercourse, but also those that directly reflect oral sex, anal sex, masturbation, etc., those that imitate them, and radicals related to the anus and genitals. It is said to be a depiction of body fluid that is generally secreted during sexual activity, and a pseudo expression. Roughly speaking, it feels like 'sexual activity is prohibited even if it is pseudo. Nude photos and videos are OK.'

As mentioned above, OnlyFans made a major change in policy from the time when it became popular due to pornography, and it is said that the background is 'the intention of banks and credit card companies'. According to media reports, OnlyFans has revised its Terms of Service at the request of banking partners and payment providers. It is unclear exactly where the pressure was applied, but since OnlyFans works with Stripe , a payment service that supports financial institutions such as banks, and credit card companies such as Visa and Mastercard, these companies are under pressure. It is believed that it was multiplied by.

This situation of 'payment services putting pressure on services that provide pornography' is common to the Pornhub incident that occurred in 2020. Pornhub was the world's largest adult site in 2020, but Visa and Mastercard stopped paying because they 'earned money from child pornography and revenge pornography.' Pornhub has revised the terms of use and deleted all 'movies uploaded by unauthorized users' whose identity is doubtful, so about 10 million movies, which is 80% of all movies, have been deleted.

The world's largest adult site Pornhub deletes more than 10 million 'movies uploaded by unauthenticated users' --GIGAZINE

by Prachatai

What happened in the Pornhub case was the argument that 'payment services should not be given'censorship'' and that 'pornography regulation causes sex workers to suffer.' The Pornhub case shows that major payment services can impose certain terms of use if they take steps to stop payments, and as a result, squeeze sex workers who have made a living by selling online pornography by a pandemic. It became an example that came.

It has been pointed out that Visa and Mastercard's suspension of payments against Pornhub is 'de facto censorship', and there are voices concerned about the distress of sex workers due to suspension of payments --GIGAZINE

This OnlyFans case has the same flow as the above Pornhub case, but a Mastercard spokeswoman said, 'I first learned about the revision of the OnlyFans terms of service' and 'It's their own decision.' The company takes the position that it is irrelevant. Regarding one case on Pornhub, he reiterated that 'We focus on preventing unauthorized and illegal adult content where our products are accepted, and there is no impact on legal content or activities.' ..

・ Continued
CEO reveals that sexual content regulation of SNS 'OnlyFans' is 'caused by banks' --GIGAZINE