Concerns About the Impact of Free Online Pornography

A common misconception is that watching free porn online is harmless. Many brush it off as just a fantasy. However, a recently published report by the National Centre on Sexual Exploitation reveals troubling evidence regarding the porn industry’s role in a disturbing rise in image-based sexual abuse (ISBA) that has severe consequences in the real world.

This type of abuse includes various behaviors—such as manipulation, theft, intimidation, or using images for sexual purposes without proper consent. Forms of ISBA comprise the unauthorized sharing of explicit images and videos, recorded sexual violence, and even AI-generated deceptive porn, all without the consent of those depicted.

Unfortunately, well-known porn platforms like Pornhub, Xvideos, and XNXX have profited by permitting the distribution of this abuse. They rely heavily on the influx of free user-generated content to drive advertising revenue and subscription models. This “freemium” setup necessitates a lot of video uploads, prompting these sites to overlook user verification processes, including age checks and consent validation, especially when faced with claims of abuse or copyright violations.

Real-life examples are, frankly, alarming. Take, for instance, a case involving a college field hockey team that was covertly recorded while using the men’s locker room—cameras had been installed by university staff. It’s shocking, but such recordings, including sexual assaults or trafficking incidents, routinely end up on various porn sites.

One investigation highlighted the presence of a disturbing video showing an unconscious woman being assaulted. At one point, it had over 121,000 views, with some comments downplaying the victim’s suffering. Categories like “Contrary to Her Will” existed on Xvideos, reflecting a disturbing normalization of such content.

Moreover, one woman, a news anchor, discovered her images were being misused in adverts without her consent. They had been lifted from security footage, showing how deeply problematic this industry can be.

Search results on popular platforms reveal even more concerning trends. Xvideos returned an overwhelming number of results tied to voyeuristic content and abuse-related terminology. Despite warnings on sites like Pornhub, similar searches yield vast amounts of material related to ISBA.

The unfortunate truth is that the porn industry tends to socializes users to view ISBA as typical sexual behavior, rather than recognizing it as abuse.

The ramifications for victims can be profound and long-lasting, affecting their emotional, physical, and social well-being. A study in Australia indicated that one in five participants reported experiencing ISBA, with many feeling humiliated or fearful afterward. Another survey from the U.S. showed that victims of ISBA reported significantly worse mental health outcomes compared to those who hadn’t encountered such abuse.

Once a video is uploaded to these platforms, removing it is nearly impossible. In response to this ongoing issue, the recently enacted “Take It Down Act” criminalizes the uploading of image-based sexual abuse and mandates removal within 48 hours, which is a step in the right direction.

Yet, there’s still more to be done. Elected officials need to take actionable steps to ensure that porn sites are held accountable for the abuses occurring on their platforms. After all, everyone deserves the right to exist without the fear of having their images exploited online.