XBIZ 2017: Sssh.com Presents 'Taboo by Context'

XBIZ 2017: Sssh.com Presents 'Taboo by Context'

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — A lively XBIZ 2017 panel comprising several adult entertainment execs, a payment processing exec, an industry attorney and a film critic discussed the market and regulatory consequences of producing and distributing porn.

“Taboo by Context: Mainstream Sex and Violence, Adult Entertainment and the Social Consequences of Selective Production Standards” was presented Wednesday by Sssh.com for its Mindbrowse series. The symposium at the Andaz hotel in West Hollywood was broadcast on Periscope and is available here.

Moderated by sociologist and author Dr. Chauntelle Tibbals, panelists for “Taboo by Context” included Penthouse’s Kelly Holland, Severe Sex Films’ Dee Severe, Mobius Payments’ Mia Zhu, industry attorney Karen Tynan and Crave Magazine film critic William Bibbiani.

The entire adult entertainment production chain — from distribution to payment processing to traffic — is affected on a selective basis by private and public regulation, as well as the viewing public.  

“At the end of the day, nothing is black and white. Everything is within context,” Holland said. “If [the scene] has a strong storyline, you can get away with a lot more than if it was a gonzo scene.”

Control of adult productions is often “hidden” or “not scene,” Tibbals noted. Oftentimes payment processors get heat from Visa and Mastercard and put the brakes on certain types of sexually depictions, she said.

Zhu said: “The card associations have actual published rules. When it comes to the sexual activity, they limit 'offensive sexual activity' — self-mutilation, blood ... anything that leaves marks. There are things that just don’t fly.”

The repercussions for site including prohibited material can include fines in the thousands of dollars from the credit card associations, she said.

“Visa and Mastercard take referrals from government agencies, competitors and, believe it or not, just people from all over the world” to eliminate "offensive" material.

Could the incoming Trump administration put the brakes on porn, completely? Holland said “yes.”

“Do you know how simple it would be for [Trump attorney general pick] Jeff Sessions and company to go to Visa and Mastercard and ask them to move the line from here to here. And every [adult] internet company could go out of business.

“It’s not going to be the First Amendment, it’s not going to be lawsuits,” Holland said. “It is not going to be any of that. It will be about the bureaucratizing of adult. There is a cause for alarm, and I think that’s how they’ll go after us.”

Tynan agreed. “I think that view is correct from a legal perspective,” she said. “We saw it with Cal/OSHA. They didn’t try to shut down pornographers based on obscenity. It was, ‘where’s your fire extinguisher, where’s your gloves.’ It is very technical.”

The adult industry oftentimes gets demonized and shamed, Severe said. “You should look at the comments section in the LA Weekly or the Los Angeles Times when there is any story about porn. The comments are horrifying,” she said.   

“It is the shame of pleasure," Holland remarked.

Tibbles, in closing, said: “It is greatly tragic and greatly ironic to think about the thing that is so ultimate and so awesome — sexual pleasure — that we are so ashamed of and torn over.”

XBIZ 2017, sponsored by Camgasm, includes numerous events as well as seminars, which are sponsored by NETbilling.

Related:  

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

TrustyFans Introduces New Blog

Creator directory TrustyFans has introduced an official blog to its site, titled "From Hidden to Hype."

Romi Rain Fronts Latest From New Sensations

Romi Rain and Codey Steele star in the latest release from New Sensations.

JD Directs New Grazyeli Silva Showcase

Evil Angel has released JD’s Grazyeli Silva showcase, titled "Grazyeli Silva Sexcapades."

Heidi Jo Makes Her WIFEY Debut

Heidi Jo stars with her husband Jerri, Isiah Maxwell, and Hollywood Cash in the latest release from Vixen Media Group studio imprint WIFEY.

Anna Claire Clouds Leads Elegant Angel's 'Shared: A Hotwife Origin Story'

Reigning XMAs Female Performer of the Year Anna Claire Clouds stars in Elegant Angel's new feature thriller "Shared: A Hotwife Origin Story," part of the site's annual "Superstar September" initiative.

Gender X Drops 'Vampirella' Parody

Gender X Films has released its latest feature, "Transpirella," a parody of the 1970s sci-fi horror comic book "Vampirella," directed by Jim Powers.

JustFor.fans' Dominic Ford Featured in Wired Magazine

JustFor.fans Founder and CEO Dominic Ford is featured in a new article in Wired Magazine, titled "The Internet Revolutionized Porn. Age Verification Could Upend Everything."

Dr. Charlotte Gaydos Joins ProDx Health Advisory Board

Dr. Charlotte Gaydos has joined the Advisory Board of ProDx Health.

Aylo Fined $5 Million as FTC, Utah Settle Safety Practices Complaint

The Federal Trade Commission and the state of Utah on Wednesday settled a complaint against Aylo, requiring the company to pay a $5 million penalty and implement measures to prevent illegal content from appearing on its sites.

New AI Companion Platform 'Pornstar.love' Launches

Pornstar.love, a new AI companion platform, has officially launched.

Show More