LOS ANGELES — Sex Work CEO founder MelRose Michaels released a new YouTube video about the controversies around the current wave of age verification legislation.
Titled "Destroying Age Verification in Less Than Five Minutes — Exposing the Truth," Michaels’ video challenges the effectiveness and intentions behind current age verification policies in the United States.
Michaels, a rep noted, “vehemently opposes these laws, which are claimed to protect minors and enhance online safety. She exposes how these policies not only fail to protect children but also pose significant threats to privacy and internet safety. By requiring ID verification for adult content, these laws risk personal data by potentially sharing it with various third parties, including banks and other institutions. This can lead to unintended consequences such as discrimination and increased vulnerability to phishing scams.”
The video also highlights the ease with which these age verification mechanisms can be bypassed, such as through the use of VPNs, rendering the policies ineffective. It also raises concerns about driving users towards unregulated and potentially harmful platforms outside the jurisdiction of U.S. laws, thereby increasing exposure to dangerous content.
Michaels argues that these policies do not make the internet a safer place but rather complicate and compromise lawful and consensual adult content creation and consumption. She also calls upon viewers to actively oppose such legislation and advocate for their right to privacy and safe, consensual adult content.
“I think the most essential thing creators can do right now to impact the future of our industry is to oppose age verification themselves and participate in educating their fan base on why they also need to oppose these bills,” Michaels said. “In the present moment, it really feels like adult performers don't understand the impact that this will have on them, their business, and their bottom lines. But this is the only way I could imagine being able to help. And so I'm doing my best to do my part.”
For more information, visit DefendOnlinePrivacy.com.