ATVOD Charges 21 U.K. Porn Sites

ATVOD Charges 21 U.K. Porn Sites

LONDON — ATVOD, the British authority charged with requiring video-on-demand operators to make sure those under 18 can't access hardcore porn, said today that it has brought up charges against 21 U.K. adult websites.

The 21 sites that have run afoul with the U.K. media regulator are operated by eight adult brands. Each of the sites were charged today with violating Rule 11, which requires an effective credit card system that verifies that the user is 18 or over at the point of registration.

Two of the 21 websites also were found to have violated Rule 14, which outlaws VOD websites that contain "prohibited material," or content that would be denied a British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) certificate.

The two websites found in breach of Rule 14 include TheBondageMistressClub.com, a site operated by Mystic Online Media Ltd. that offers more than 1,000 BDSM videos, and DreamsofSpanking.com, which is owned by Pandora Blake, a staunch free speech advocate who last year joined protesters outside the House of Parliament to show displeasure over the new regs over “prohibited material.”

In a statement today, ATVOD said that the two sites charged with Rule 14 violations “allowed free and unrestricted access to extreme BDSM material — including videos of genitals being pierced with needles and heavy caning causing injury — which has been banned outright on U.K. VOD services since December 2014.”

“Such material is also banned for sale on DVD in the UK, even in licensed sex shops. Further prohibited material was available to visitors to the websites who paid a fee.”

ATVOD noted that the two services are the subject of “ongoing enforcement action.”

“If they fail to become fully compliant in accordance with a strict timetable set by ATVOD, the service providers will be referred to Ofcom for consideration of a sanction, a procedure which can lead to operators being fined,” the VOD regulator said.

The other sites fingered by ATVOD for breaking statutory rules regarding Rule 11 include JoyBear.com, LukesLair.com, MyBizarreClips.com, TheBondageMistress.com, LisaCross.com, SundaySportXXXtra.com, GlamandGlossyXXtra.com, TropicalBabesXXXtra.com, Page4Classics.com, GlamandGlossy.com, EternalFire.xxx, PussyGaloreXXXtra.com, PlatinumBabesXXXtra.com, SplatBukkake.com, UKPornParty.com, SexyUKPornStars.com, UKXXXPass.com, EnglishLads.com and LucyZara.com, as well as the pair of sites also charged with Rule 14 violations, TheBondageMistressClub.com and DreamsofSpanking.com.

The services "had all failed to have in place robust mechanisms for preventing under 18s from accessing pornographic material which would be restricted to adult licensed sex shop customers if distributed on a DVD,” ATVOD said. “Four of the services — LukesLair, UKXXX Pass, TheBondageMistressClub and DreamsofSpanking — had allowed any visitor to view such material free of charge.”

“The remaining four restricted access to hardcore porn or strong fetish material to paying customers only, but accepted forms of payment which could be used by under 18s.”

ATVOD said that other than TheBondageMistressClub.com and DreamsofSpanking.com, which are subject to the ongoing enforcement action, the remaining six services acted to make changes to bring their service into compliance or closed until such action could be completed.

“Of these, JoybearPictures and UKXXXPass acted in advance of the final breach ruling, while the remaining four acted in accordance with deadlines set in enforcement notifications issued at the time the breach was confirmed.”

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 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

Justices Alito, Thomas Invoke Victorian-Era Morality Law, Raising Censorship Concerns

Several national publications reported this week on widespread concern among Free Speech advocates after U.S. Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas repeatedly invoked during a hearing the infamous segregation-era law the Comstock Act, which was the cornerstone of U.S. censorship of sexual material from the 1870s until the 1970s.

Skinfluential Management's FansFuel Acquires Fanwire

Creator stats and affiliate marketing platform FansFuel has acquired creator account management tool Fanwire.

Nebraska AV Bill Moves Forward Despite Privacy, Free Speech Concerns

Nebraska’s unicameral Legislature has given first-round approval to LB 1092, the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

AEBN Celebrates 25th Anniversary

The Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network (AEBN) is celebrating its 25th year in business this week.

Performers in Meta Blacklisting Lawsuit Seek to Preserve Antitrust Claims

Adult Performance Artists Guild board officers Alana Evans, Kelly Pierce and Ruby have informed a California court that, although they want to drop their lawsuit claiming that Meta conspired with OnlyFans to blacklist rival premium fan platforms’ talent, they may still pursue antitrust claims in the future.

FSC, Co-Plaintiffs to Ask US Supreme Court to Review Constitutionality of Texas Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and its co-plaintiffs in the challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law have petitioned the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit to stay its recent decision upholding the law, because they intend to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the law’s constitutionality.

FSC Vows to Fight Florida Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has issued a statement vowing to continue fighting Florida’s new age verification law, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday as part of a comprehensive bill targeting minors’ use of social media.

Kansas Republican Aims to Create New Bureaucracy to 'Investigate' Porn Websites

Republican state legislators succeeded Monday in moving forward Kansas’ version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists, despite serious concerns raised by House Democrats about the cost of establishing a new bureaucracy tasked with investigating websites for pornographic content.

SK Intertainment Launches 'Skinfluential Management' Agency, FansFuel Joint Venture

Mr. Skin/Mr. Man parent company SK Intertainment has launched new creator agency Skinfluential Management, as well as a new joint venture with Showbizz Media's creator stats and affiliate marketing platform, FansFuel.

Industry Attorney, Free Speech Champion Clyde DeWitt Passes Away at 75

Noted industry attorney Clyde DeWitt passed away on Friday in Las Vegas at 75, according to friends and colleagues.

Show More