Daily Beast Publishes Op-Ed on Personal Impact of Tech Censorship

Daily Beast Publishes Op-Ed on Personal Impact of Tech Censorship

LOS ANGELES — The Daily Beast has published an editorial by PASS board chair, cam performer and health researcher Valerie Webber about the personal toll of tech censorship on her life, career and livelihood.

Webber's editorial was triggered by the suspension of her cam account for allegedly “violating the code of conduct” by engaging “in a fetish category that is cause for immediate account closure.”

Webber had taken a camming hiatus from around 2014 until recently, and noticed the online adult  environment had changed in the years she had been away from sex work while working on her PhD.

“Now that I’m finishing my degree and my funding has run out,” she wrote, “I’ve found myself back online in what is probably the most inhospitable porn landscape we’ve seen in decades.”

When her camming platform suspended her account, she received “no explanation, no opportunity for correction, no word about what would happen to [her] outstanding pay. There is a code of conduct ... but the rules are vague. It’s hard to know what acts or topics of discussion might trigger a violation, and there’s no boss down the hall to have a chat with.”

According to Webber, a minefield of unclear payment processing regulation and seemingly arbitrary enforcement results in platforms opaquely passing the impact of those vague rules along to a “disposable” worker base — which directly translates into “ominous restrictions on sexual freedom.”

“Compliance is so onerous that companies are simply opting out,” she wrote. “Platforms are moderating their workers with an increasingly heavy hand, so the scope of sexual topics we have to avoid is getting broader. Platforms have also passed the task of moderation down to us, asking that we flag and report clients who request shows that might violate the rules, or risk being punished for complicity.”

"Not only does this mean I stand to make less money," Webber concluded, "I’m also being asked to police my clientele and their desires.”

To read Valerie Webber’s “Tech’s Harsh Censorship of Porn Is Hitting Very Close to Home,” visit TheDailyBeast.com.

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

Nerdgasm: A Look at the Naughty Side of Pop Culture Geekdom

From “Call of Duty” to cosplay, from tabletop dice rolls to dungeon-inspired dirty talk, the worlds of geek fandom and fantasy are no longer confined to the basement. They’ve kicked down the door, shed the “Firefly” tee and gone full frontal.

Kyrgyzstan Parliament Moves to Outlaw Internet Pornography

A parliamentary committee of the Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday approved a measure to outlaw online adult content in the country.

Sweden Bans Purchase of 'Remote' Sexual Services

The Riksdag, Sweden’s parliament, has approved a proposal to criminalize purchasing sexual services performed remotely by streamers and custom content creators.

Asa Akira to Deliver XBIZ Talk at Miami Conference

XBIZ is pleased to announce that decorated performer, Pornhub brand ambassador, and author Asa Akira is set to deliver an exclusive talk at XBIZ Miami.

JustFor.fans Launches 'Fentanyl Test Strip' Initiative

JustFor.fans (JFF) has launched a test strip initiative to combat the nationwide fentanyl crisis.

2025 XBIZ Miami Speaker Lineup Announced

XBIZ is pleased to announce the release of the full speaker lineup for XBIZ Miami, the latest edition of the adult industry’s premier summer conference, set to take place May 19-22 at the Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach hotel in South Beach.

AV Bulletin: Arizona's About-Face, What New Laws Mean for Adult

Industry stakeholders and free speech advocates have anxiously been awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, which could significantly impact state age verification laws around the United States. In the meantime, state legislatures continue to weigh and pass AV bills, the U.K. and the EU are moving ahead with their own AV mandates and strategies, and legal challenges continue to play out in U.S. courts — with some cases on hold pending the SCOTUS ruling in Paxton.

Million Billion Media Launches New Website

Management and PR agency Million Billion Media (MBM) has launched a new website.

'Neon Nightswim' Party Returns to XBIZ Miami

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the annual Neon Nightswim Pool Party will once again illuminate XBIZ Miami on Tuesday, May 20.

FSC Addresses UK Age Verification Guidelines

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published an article offering guidance on the U.K.'s Online Safety Act and the various guidelines put forward by the country's telecommunications regulator Ofcom.The article follows:

Show More