In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Representative Paul Gosar demanded that the Department of Justice investigate OnlyFans for breaking sex trafficking legislation.
In the letter, Representative Gosar suggested that OnlyFans, where users can upload sexually explicit video and images to paying customers, should be investigated under the 1910 Mann Act, which bans “interstate transportation of an individual for an immoral, or illegal purpose:”
On this site, individuals can advertise their willingness to travel across state lines for illegal or immoral activity, and the platform providing publicity for these individuals appears to subsidize and capitalize off this travel. It is worth investigating this issue further, given the volume of activity on this site and anecdotal reports about prostitution, child exploitative material, and illicit sexual coercion.
OnlyFans boomed in popularity during the pandemic, as many women turned to the online platform to make money while employment in many other areas had dried up. It has received serious criticism from many on both the right and left, due to the predatory nature of its sign up system – anyone who refers a new user gets a percentage of their earnings, incentivising the recruitment of as many people onto the site as possible.
“Women on OnlyFans have a vested interest in gloating about how great the site is,” highlighted conservative commentator Ashley Goldenberg, “because they make money off you.” Julie Bindel, the feminist author, said that OnlyFans is both prostitution and pornography. “It is part of the new wave of software platforms and business models which are extending the reach of the porn industry,” she said, attacking claims that it is somehow “empowering” for women. Read more…