SAN FRANCISCO — Free Speech Coalition Executive Director Alison Boden recently hosted a panel discussion on the trust and safety practices of adult platforms at TrustCon, the global conference dedicated to trust and safety professionals.
This was a first-of-its-kind panel for the event, which is aimed at those tasked with moderating content, FSC explained through a statement.
Boden brought together Andrew Seiler of Tropical Sun/Clips4Sale, David Cooke of Aylo/Pornhub, Murray Perkins of WGCZ/XVideos and Shane Britten of Crime Stoppers International to discuss the unique challenges of moderating sexually explicit content.
The panel worked to demystify how adult content platforms address issues like CSAM, image-based sexual abuse, uploader verification and other common platform issues.
Panelists discussed how platforms can partner with NGOs to deliver safer experiences for their users and creators.
“Our industry has been at the forefront of trust and safety for years, but too often we’re not part of the conversation,” said Boden. “It's essential that we collaborate, share best practices and continuously improve our strategies to protect both users and creators. The TrustCon panel brought together some of the leading voices in our industry to explain to leaders in mainstream tech how we tackle these critical issues.”
During the panel, Boden delved into the tools and processes the companies represented employ to enforce fundamental measures such as identity and consent documentation, CSAM scanning and reporting, and removing reported content. The session also covered some of the regulatory challenges these companies encounter, the methods used to audit their effectiveness, and how they support their trust and safety teams, who frequently handle distressing material.
“Much of the audience was made up of trust and safety professionals working at mainstream tech companies, and many were unfamiliar with the reality of how adult companies operate,” the FSC statement noted. “Attendees were extremely appreciative of the panelists and walked away with a new understanding of the industry, gaining insights beyond the often misconstrued narratives portrayed in the media.”
Boden expressed her hope that others in the industry will participate in similar panels for upcoming editions of TrustCon.
“It helps demonstrate the industry's commitment to transparency and responsibility,” she said.