The Government has a crucial opportunity to address the rampant sexual exploitation and child abuse in the online realm. Within a few weeks, there could be a mandate for all pornography websites to verify the age and consent of individuals featured in their videos, allowing them to withdraw consent at any time.
Surprisingly, these basic safeguards are not currently in place, leading to mainstream pornography sites unwittingly hosting content involving child abuse, sexual violence, and trafficking victims. The absence of age verification and consent checks has enabled this disturbing trend to persist.
Even professionally produced videos can be a source of exploitation, as highlighted by a brave survivor, Alia Azariah, who shared her harrowing experience of coercion and abuse within the pornography industry. Despite the deeply personal nature of the content, individuals like Alia have limited power to remove these videos from circulation.
To combat this issue, the House of Lords recently approved measures that would require pornography websites to verify the age and ongoing consent of all individuals depicted. These proposed safeguards align with the Online Safety Act and acknowledge the unique regulatory needs of the pornography industry compared to mainstream entertainment.
Support for these measures comes from various organizations, including UK Feminista, Barnardo’s, and CEASE, as well as from survivors themselves. As the Crime and Policing Bill returns to the Commons, the Government faces a crucial decision on whether to uphold these safeguards or discard them. This choice ultimately reflects whose rights the state prioritizes and protects: those profiting from pornography or the vulnerable individuals exploited for financial gain.
It is time to demonstrate where our allegiance lies in this critical matter.
