Taskforce Conference Wraps in Belfast, ASACP Attends

LOS ANGELES —The EU and Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT) Conference on Protecting Children Online took place in Belfast, Ireland last week. More than 200 representatives from law enforcement, government, industry and non-government organizations from around the world met to discuss efforts to combat child pornography.

Or, rather, combat “child abuse,” a term Jim Gamble, deputy director general of the National Crime Squad and chairman of the VGT, said should be used to describe pornographic images that feature children.

Using “pornography” to describe such images is confusing, Gamble said, and associates an industry that employs consenting adults with one that profits from “online child abuse activities.”

The VGT has no interest in consenting legal adult entertainment, Gamble added.

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice, Microsoft, Visa International, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the ASACP were in attendance.

Joan Irvine, executive director for ASACP, said the conference provided a beneficial platform to show the adult industry’s support in the battle against child pornography.

“People were surprised but pleased that the adult entertainment was being proactive in [this] battle, protecting children and establishing best practices,” Irvine said.

While attending a pay-per-view workshop at the conference, Irvine said she was glad to discover that attendees knew who was primarily to blame for child pornography.

“It was good to hear that they know that most of the commercial child porn sites are run by organized crime, especially out of the former Soviet Bloc,” Irvine said.

Irvine said she even briefly spoke with Andrew Oosterbaan, chief of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section under Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez—clearly no friend of the adult industry of late.

“I introduced the ASACP to Mr. Oosterbann and let him know how the adult industry was working to combat child pornography,” Irvine told XBiz. “The conference was beneficial for ASACP. I [also] reconnected with other child porn reporting hotlines that I met at INHOPE.org meetings in the last few years and introduced ASACP to various international law enforcement agencies and companies.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

FSC 2026/2027 Board Members Announced

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has announced the results of its 2026/2027 Board of Directors election.

Report: AVS Group Beefs Up AV After $1.3 Million Fine

Adult content provider AVS Group has begun to institute robust age checks on some of its websites after U.K. media regulator Ofcom last week imposed a penalty of approximately $1.3 million for noncompliance with Online Safety Act regulations, the BBC is reporting.

FSC: Federal Report Confirms Unfair Banking Discrimination Against Adult Industry

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) today announced that a federal report on debanking has concluded that several U.S. banks engaged in discriminatory banking practices against members of the adult industry.

FSC Summit Event Schedule Announced

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has revealed its slate of networking events and symposiums for its annual summit, set for January 15 during XBIZ 2026.

Washington AV Bill Jumps on 'Health Warning' Bandwagon

A new age verification bill in the Washington state legislature would require adult sites to post notices warning users of alleged health risks, despite a previous federal court ruling against such requirements.

Irish Regulator: EU States to Ramp Up AV Enforcement for Smaller Sites

A representative of Irish media regulator Coimisiún na Meán told legislators that Ireland and other EU states are preparing to expand enforcement of age verification regulations to include smaller adult sites, British newspaper The Times is reporting.

Ofcom Fines AVS Group $1.3 Million for AV Noncompliance

U.K. media regulator Ofcom on Wednesday imposed a penalty of one million pounds, or approximately $1.3 million, on AVS Group Ltd. after an investigation concluded that the company had failed to implement robust age checks on 18 adult websites.

Updated: Aylo to Help Test EU Age Verification App

Pornhub parent company Aylo plans to participate in the European Commission’s pilot program for its “white label” age verification app, a spokesperson for the company has confirmed.

Missouri Lawmaker Attempts to Revive 'Health Warnings' for Adult Sites

A Missouri state representative has introduced a bill that would require adult sites to post notices warning users of alleged physical, mental, and social harms associated with pornography, despite a previous federal court ruling against such requirements.

Ruling: Italy's 'Porn Tax' Applies to All Content Creators

Italy’s tax revenue agency has ruled that the nation’s 25% “ethical tax” on income generated from adult content applies even to smaller independent online content creators.

Show More