Latest news with #onlineplatforms
The Verge
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Verge
What's a smut peddler to do these days?
In the aftermath of pulling the sale of over 20,000 pages of adult content, the creators of that work are left feeling betrayed, exhausted, and fearful. The number of platforms that permit the sale of adult material is shrinking, and there's no guarantee the ones that remain will still permit it in the future. But now, with their livelihoods at stake, many creators and their communities have begun to push back and search for new ways to thrive. 'Before [ the NSFW comics community would grouse and complain and share feelings of anxiety,' said Brad Guigar, a smut comic artist. 'This time around, we're actually doing something about it.' For some, that means organizing massive call campaigns to pressure payment processors to reverse course and allow to host the content it had before. Others have decided to abandon the fickleness of platforms for their own websites. And yet others have decided that if they can't sell their game directly, they'll just make it free. To some creators, the most disheartening thing about removing thousands of pages of adult content is that it's relatively unsurprising. The storefront is one of several in recent years that have embraced adult content only to shun it later when payment processors start asking questions. They've now found themselves booted from platform to platform, moving from Tumblr to Patreon to Gumroad, only to have the rug pulled out from under them each time. 'This time around, we're actually doing something about it.' When adult creators are regularly forced to find new places for their work, their business overall suffers. 'I can never get ahead,' said PixelJail, a creator who makes BDSM and other kink-related comics and illustrations. 'I have to stop doing paid work to set up new accounts, backlog posting, pay for new subscriptions or services' and other administrative tasks. PixelJail has now opted to set up their own websites. But even without the burden of conforming to a platform's rules, having one's own website isn't a guarantee of absolute safety. In the UK, where PixelJail lives, the recently implemented Online Safety Act requires that online platforms have 'strong age checks' in place to prevent children from accessing pornographic or 'harmful' content. 'I had to geoblock my websites in the UK, including my webstore,' PixelJail said, meaning they no longer sell their work in their own country. Laws like the UK's Online Safety Act are slowly proliferating across the United States. The US Supreme Court recently ruled that age verification laws do not violate the First Amendment and many states are now requiring adult content sites to implement age verification tools, which can be expensive and subject to privacy concerns. Rather than comply, sites like PornHub have simply decided to cease operations in areas where those laws are in effect. Individual creators might have to make a similar choice. 'I made my site years ago and didn't use it much at first,' PixelJail said. 'But it's gradually become the only real place I can go to sell and even now, that's at risk.' Creator platforms have repeatedly been forced to exile adult content creators. In 2017, Patreon tightened its rules related to adult content causing some of those creators to abandon the site with man choosing to set up shop with Gumroad, another e-commerce platform. Then, last year, Gumroad banned virtually all sexually explicit material, causing yet another adult creator mass migration. You can follow the line of adult creators hopping from platform to platform fleeing content bans all the way back to one website: Tumblr. 'From between 2012 to 2018, there was a huge, and I truly do mean huge NSFW community on Tumblr,' said DieselBrain, a smut artist specializing in monster kink. For many of the creators I spoke to, the 'Tumblr Purge' of 2018, where the social media site outright banned all adult content, was their first experience with having their previously accepted work suddenly prohibited. 'This kicked the entire community off of there, and I'd argue that we never really recovered fully,' Dieselbrain said. It's easy to see how. When porn creators move from one platform to another they bring their communities with them creating an influx of traffic that would please any website. Then, after reaping the benefits of all those new eyeballs (in addition to a portion of the transactions those new eyeballs make), sites dispose of the reason for its newfound success. This was almost the case with OnlyFans, which, in 2020, briefly flirted with banning adult content, the kind of material the website was universally known for. In every case, payment processors like Stripe, PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard were the culprit for these crackdowns. While all payment processors have guidelines prohibiting the sale of illegal material, many host platforms overcorrect, banning material that would ostensibly be permitted in order to avoid the increased scrutiny (and cost) hosting that content requires. 'We have been asked to be more rigorous in enforcing our ToS and must comply,' Gumroad CEO Sahil Lavingia said in an interview with TechCrunch regarding its ban of adult content. Lavingia declined to name the specific company asking. To blunt the blow caused by platform disruption, creators often turn to their communities, both the ones made up of other creators, or those made up of their personal fans. They act as information networks, sharing news about where a creator may have set up shop and are more generally an avenue of commiseration and support. To help his fellow artists navigate the recent events with Guigar, the NSFW artist, started a newsletter for adult creators called Uncensored Artists. The developer Cara Cadaver is leveraging her community to help support her game VILE: Exhumed. She made the game available for free on the Internet Archive after it was banned from Steam, which, according to her, was done under false pretenses. 'There are a lot of intense visuals in VILE: Exhumed,' Cara Cadaver wrote. 'But there is no uncensored nudity, no depictions of sex acts, and no pornography whatsoever – which is one of the justifications bad actors are using right now to censor games.' Though the game is free, there are options to support Cadaver directly through donations, half of which, she said, will be donated to charity. 'This censorship of my work is a direct attack on creative expression and artistic freedom, and it will not stop with false accusations of sexual content,' Cadaver said. There has virtually never been a stable time to be an adult creator on the internet. To them, it feels unfair to have come to places like Tumblr, Patreon, Gumroad, and now places that were tolerant of the kinds of work they did, only to have those places taken away, often without warning or recourse, leaving them with one less way to make a living. 'Most of the creators I know are everyday people with bills to pay mired in late stage capitalism,' said Mesmereye, an artist who specializes in hypnosis kink. 'When you have a body, a camera, and an internet connection, why shouldn't you try to put the proverbial bread on the table with the assets and talents you're born with?' Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Ash Parrish Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Analysis Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. 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Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EU takes action against AliExpress for DSA compliance issues
The European Commission (EC) has provisionally determined that AliExpress failed to fulfil its duty to evaluate and reduce the risks associated with the spread of unlawful products as required by the Digital Services Act (DSA). The commission is advancing its investigation regarding AliExpress's adherence to the DSA aimed at bolstering online user and consumer protection. The Commission's preliminary conclusions indicate several areas where AliExpress's practices do not align with DSA requirements for Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs). The platform's risk assessment appears to overlook the limitations of its moderation capabilities, leading to an underestimation of the risk related to the spread of illegal products. AliExpress has reportedly not effectively implemented its sanctions policy against sellers who consistently list illegal items. There are indications of significant shortcomings in AliExpress's proactive content moderation systems, which reduce their effectiveness and leave room for exploitation by unscrupulous sellers. These issues represent a failure to adequately evaluate and address systemic risks associated with the distribution of illegal content, including counterfeit items and products that fail to meet European safety standards. The preliminary findings do not predetermine the final outcome of the investigation. AliExpress now has the opportunity to respond to the EC's concerns. If the EC's initial view is confirmed, it may result in a non-compliance decision, potential fines and an obligation for AliExpress to submit an action plan to remedy the infringement. The formal proceedings to assess AliExpress' adherence to the DSA began on 14 March 2024, focusing on risk management, content moderation, complaint handling, advertising transparency, trader traceability and data access for researchers. EC tech sovereignty, security and democracy executive vice-president Henna Virkkunen stated: 'We have been able to take concrete steps to ensure a high level of safety for EU [European Union] citizens while maintaining a level playing field for platforms and traders in the EU market. This decision serves as an illustration of the commission's expectations when we raise concerns. We welcome AliExpress' commitments towards becoming safer for users, fairer for legitimate traders and a better online platform for all.' The EC has also accepted and made legally binding a series of commitments from AliExpress to address concerns about its transparency on advertising and recommender systems. AliExpress has agreed to a range of commitments to improve the monitoring and detection of illegal products on its platform, such as medicines, food supplements and adult material. These commitments also cover the platform's notice and action mechanism, internal complaint handling system, transparency of advertising and recommender systems, trader traceability and access to public data for researchers. These measures are designed to make information and tools for limiting the spread of illegal content easily accessible. AliExpress has also committed to maintaining an internal monitoring framework, overseen by a dedicated team, to ensure the effectiveness of these commitments and to conduct regular risk assessments. An independent monitoring trustee will report to the EC annually on the implementation of these commitments. "EU takes action against AliExpress for DSA compliance issues" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The National
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
France plans social media ban for children as UK mulls time limits
French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to ban social media for under-15s in France and introduce age verification for websites selling knives, as leaders across Europe seek to impose restrictions to protect children from harmful content online. Speaking in the wake of the stabbing of a schoolteacher in Nogent by a 14-year old pupil on Tuesday, Mr Macron wrote on X: 'I'm banning social media for children under 15. Platforms have the ability to verify age. Let's do it." Mr Macron told France 2 that the country 'cannot wait' for the European Union to act on proposals to limit the amount of time teenagers spend online. He said that France could proceed alone 'in the coming months' if progress isn't made at the EU level. He also announced that age verification will soon be imposed in France on sites selling knives online, similar to measures that currently apply to pornographic sites. "A 15-year-old will no longer be able to buy a knife online. That means we're going to impose massive financial sanctions and bans," he said. In March, French police started random searches for knives and other weapons concealed in bags in and around schools. A new French law forcing pornography websites to impose age verification came into effect last week, prompting key websites to start blocking French users. Demand for private network services, which conceal the user's location, surged in response. French authorities are also attempting to force social media sites including X, Reddit, Bluesky and Mastodon to introduce age verification. It comes as the UK juggles a newly launched national skills drive for young people to be trained in AI, with attempts to limit social media and smartphone use to protect children from harmful online content. Technology secretary Peter Kyle said last week that the government was looking at restrictions, such as a two-hour social media cap and a 10pm curfew. Campaigners say that more pressure should be put on social media companies to remove harmful content that gets recommended to children. Elizabeth Clutton, a computer scientist and researcher at the University of Portsmouth, said the possible restrictions were 'fair' given the evidence of a mental health crisis in children being fuelled by social media use. It was still compatible younger generations learning to use AI systems, after Mr Starmer unveiled the new AI skills drive for young people at London Tech Week. 'You have to look at the impact that peer pressure has, which is a big driving force on the mental health problem that these kids are having,' she told The National during the Tech week conference. 'It will help parents as well. If you set it as a blanket rule, there's no peer pressure. The scientific evidence is it's harmful. I do think people need that framework of support when it comes to younger generations.'
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Germany Considers 10% Digital Tax On Tech Giants Alphabet, Meta: Report
In a move that could escalate trade tensions with the U.S., Germany is reportedly contemplating imposing a 10% tax on major online platforms, including Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META). What Happened: Wolfram Weimer, the new German Minister of State for Culture, disclosed this proposal in an interview with Stern magazine. This revelation comes before Chancellor Friedrich Merz's anticipated visit to Washington, although no official confirmation has been provided yet, reported Reuters. Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — President Donald Trump has previously expressed his disapproval of foreign governments taxing American companies, pledging not to let them 'appropriate America's tax base for their own benefit.' Weimer accused big online platforms like Alphabet Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc. of 'cunning tax evasion.' He suggested that these companies, which generate billions in profits in Germany, contribute minimally to the country's tax base and society. Weimer also criticized the monopolistic tendencies of these digital platforms, arguing that they pose a threat to freedom of It Matters: This proposal comes amid growing international scrutiny of tech giants. The Trump administration has been critical of Europe's digital regulations, asserting that they pose a risk to free speech and American commercial interests. Furthermore, in April, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that the EU is preparing retaliatory measures that could include levies on digital advertising revenues from U.S. tech companies like Meta and Alphabet Inc. This was followed by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg urging President Trump to respond aggressively to these threats. If the German government proceeds with this tax, it would join Britain, Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, India, Austria, and Canada, which have imposed similar taxes on digital service providers. The shares of Alphabet fell 0.24% to close at $172.96 on Thursday, meanwhile Meta rose 0.23% to $645.05. Read Next: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — Invest before it's too late. Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Many are rushing to grab 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.30/share! Photo courtesy: JHVEPhoto / Send To MSN: Send to MSN Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Germany Considers 10% Digital Tax On Tech Giants Alphabet, Meta: Report originally appeared on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Reuters
30-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
German digital ministry treads cautiously over online platform levy
BERLIN, May 30 (Reuters) - Germany's new digital ministry said any levy on online platforms would have to be internationally coordinated and not result in higher prices for end consumers, in a sign on Friday of possible divisions within government over plans for such a tax. The Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer had said in an interview published on Thursday that officials were working on a levy which would hit platforms such as Alphabet's Google (GOOGL.O), opens new tab and Meta's Facebook (META.O), opens new tab. A levy of 10% would be reasonable, he said - without specifying if this were a tax on revenue or profit. Germany's ruling parties agreed earlier this year to consider the introduction of a digital services levy, but this was not on the list of projects the coalition wants to prioritise. Weimer's proposal had not yet been agreed upon by the government, officials had said. "The decisive factors in evaluating such a levy are that it is designed in a targeted manner, is internationally coordinated and compatible with EU law, that any potential revenue benefits Germany as a hub for innovation, and that ultimately no higher prices are passed on to end consumers," a spokesperson for the digital ministry said. The proposal comes as Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to travel to Washington soon to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, although a trip has not yet been officially announced. Trump has in the past said he will not allow foreign governments to "appropriate America's tax base for their own benefit". Industry association Bitkom warned that the levy could lead to price increases that would impact businesses, public administrations, and consumers. "These price increases will hinder and slow down the urgently needed acceleration of the digitalization of public services and the digital transformation of companies," said Bitkom President Ralf Wintergerst. "What we need is not more, but fewer financial burdens on digital goods and services."
