The Modern-Day Porn Industry: How extreme content is avoiding regulation

About this episode

This episode discusses the challenges of regulating the modern porn industry, particularly in light of extreme content and recent legal developments.

The creation and consumption of porn has always had relatively negative connotations. But today, more than ever, the industry is facing criticism as prolific algorithms push extreme videos to everyone young and old. The issue came to the fore in 2024 when French woman, Gisèle Pelicot waived her anonymity as the victim in a multiple rape case involving her husband and several strangers; that was the moment the world was forced to consider the impact that violent and abusive sexual content online could have. Just last year, the UK put into place their Online Safety Act, requiring age verification for the use of porn sites. It seemed then that a significant step had been taken to protect individuals against consuming and replicating such extreme scenes. But in January a CNN investigation into an online 'rape academy' revealed just how prominent the issue remained. One of the Senior Reporters on the story, Kara Fox, joins us for this episode, as well as House of Lords peer, Baroness Gabby Bertin, who shares with us her insight into leading an independent review into the regulation of online pornography for the UK Government. Law and Disorder is a Podot podcast. Hosted by: Charlie…

People in this episode

Hosts: Charlie Falconer, Helena Kennedy, Nicholas Mostyn

Guests: Kara Fox, Baroness Gabby Bertin

Topics covered

• porn industry
• regulation
• online safety
• extreme content
• sexual violence
• age verification

Keywords

• pornography
• regulation
• online safety act
• sexual content
• age verification
• Gisèle Pelicot
• Kara Fox
• Baroness Gabby Bertin

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CNN, UK Government, Law and Disorder, Podot, Acast

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