Melissa Todd, a dominatrix and kink model with nearly 30 years in the adult industry, questions the effectiveness of the government’s new porn regulations.
Government’s Key Proposals
Alex Davies-Jones, Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, announced measures that criminalize creating or sharing non-consensual ‘semen-defaced’ images or depicting incest and step-family scenarios on adult platforms. A standout rule targets screenshotting and saving intimate images and videos to curb unauthorized distribution.
Persistent Content Theft Challenges
Todd sells her content on subscription sites like OnlyFans, where her full collection of 6,500 photos and 916 videos often gets downloaded and reposted on rogue websites. Platforms respond quickly to takedown requests, but the material reappears elsewhere, resembling a never-ending game of whack-a-mole.
She advises aspiring creators: no true paywall exists online. Once content goes public, control vanishes. Amateur models often hide faces behind subscriptions, but Todd stresses that exposure carries risks—only share what you’re comfortable with publicly.
Why Screenshot Restrictions Fall Short
Todd doubts the screenshot ban’s impact. Determined users bypass app blocks by photographing screens with another device, using screen-recording tools, or employing advanced extraction methods. Law-abiding fans respect rules, while violators ignore them regardless of added penalties.
Respectful subscribers pay, tip, and keep content private. However, a minority redistributes it undeterred by copyright notices. Doubling legal consequences changes little for those intent on piracy.
The Double-Edged Sword of Online Sharing
Adult creators build careers amid rampant screenshots. Todd observes her older images surfacing on fan sites, drawing new audiences. Free clips, reposts, and memes introduce performers to fresh subscribers, fueling the attention-driven internet economy.
Some creators even welcome limited circulation for its promotional value.
Risks to the Adult Industry
Stricter rules could backfire. Platforms might reduce adult content to avoid liability, echoing past restrictions from payment processors, social media, and advertisers. This pattern often sidelines sex workers through algorithmic demotions or moderation burdens.
Protecting Victims While Distinguishing Content Types
Combating intimate image abuse remains crucial. Data indicates about 4.4 million people in England and Wales have faced threats of non-consensual sharing, causing severe harm. Survivors need robust safeguards.
Yet Todd highlights a key divide: professional, consensual adult work versus revenge porn. Equating them risks flawed solutions that address symptoms, not malice, while burdening creators. In her field, consent defines everything, underscoring the internet’s ongoing struggles with boundaries.
