By John Q. Hosedrinker 
A new pornography taskforce plans to propose legislation this autumn targeting “barely legal” content, prompted by the Channel 4 documentary, “1000 Men and Me: The Bonnie Blue Story.” The documentary, which follows performer Bonnie Blue, has faced criticism for potentially glamorizing extreme pornography and failing to adequately challenge her assertions of harmlessness. The proposed legislation, spearheaded by Baroness Gabby Bertin, aims to address the regulatory gap where harmful pornography, like adults role-playing as children, is not prohibited online. The film is also being reviewed by Ofcom, with the potential of an investigation.
Read the original article here
The UK pornography taskforce, after the airing of a recent Channel 4 documentary, is poised to propose a ban on what they’re calling “barely legal” content. Let’s be clear: this is a loaded term, more marketing jargon than a definitive legal category. The whole situation raises more questions than it answers, which makes the concept of a taskforce dedicated to it somewhat puzzling.
The inherent problem is the slippery slope it creates. If “barely legal” is targeted, what comes next? Will the focus shift to “almost legal”? The underlying concern seems to be performers who appear young, but at the core, it’s about adults participating in legal activities. This could easily devolve into a form of censorship, reminiscent of discussions about banning pornography featuring A-cup actresses.
The motivations behind such actions are hard to decipher, especially considering the more pressing issues facing the UK. With a multitude of social and economic challenges, it’s hard to understand how a pornography taskforce became a priority. It certainly makes one wonder if all the other problems have been solved and now we have to focus on non-issues? It feels like the government is looking for a fight they can win.
The implications of increased censorship are worth considering. History teaches us that attempts to suppress something often backfire, driving it underground and making it even more enticing. An all-out war on “barely legal” content could simply drive viewers toward even more extreme content or create a chilling effect on artistic expression.
The situation calls for a serious assessment of what constitutes a legal adult and when they are truly capable of making decisions. We already have laws in place. The idea of raising the age of adulthood and creating an entirely new standard isn’t a solution. The fact is, those who are inclined towards illegal acts aren’t going to be deterred by banning what is already legal.
The focus of the taskforce, as it is framed, also raises questions of priorities. This seems to be about social status and optics, while more serious issues remain unaddressed. This all seems like a distraction tactic. The concept of a pornography taskforce itself has to be asked, what kind of society has the time and resource to invest into something like this?
It’s also important to question the logic behind the focus on content that is already legal. If someone is in a relationship with a woman who is aged 18 to 20 but looks “barely legal,” are they breaking a law? A complete absence of context in these discussions makes it difficult to fully understand what is going on.
The lack of clarity on enforcement is another crucial point. How, exactly, will this ban be enforced? How does the taskforce plan to navigate the internet, VPNs, and other methods of content access? We’ve seen such measures proposed before, and, in practice, they are often easily circumvented.
The whole situation is raising concerns about freedom of expression and the potential for censorship. The issue lies in whether freedom of speech and the exchange of ideas is something we support, with all its complexities. This is a question that must be answered before we proceed.
The focus on “barely legal” content could be a step toward more extensive censorship practices, potentially banning much more content in the future. It has happened before with other media; the potential consequences must be considered.
So what are the main ideas driving this? The documentary, it seems, focuses on a woman who has gained notoriety for engaging in sexual activity with a large number of men. While it’s understandable that some would find her content unappealing, that’s not a solid basis for governmental intervention.
It’s easy to see this move as an attempt to appease certain segments of the population, especially those with conservative values. But it’s important to analyze if the cost is worth the supposed benefits.
The task force’s actions appear to ignore more severe issues, such as actual crime and scandals. It also seems to ignore the fact that the content being targeted is already legal. Banning something that’s “barely legal” is a concept that is difficult to fully comprehend.
It will be interesting to see how this story unfolds. It highlights the complexities of regulating content in the digital age.