MPs adopted this Tuesday in committee an article of the comprehensive bill against sexual violence aimed at bringing paid sexual acts carried out remotely into the field of pimping, with platforms like Onlyfans or Mym in the sights. Platforms specializing in paid sexual content have grown significantly in recent years, particularly among young people. The provision targets intermediaries, such as platforms offering content of a sexual nature produced at the request of a customer, but also their users, by creating an offense punishing the purchase of such acts carried out remotely.
The measure sparked a lively debate among MPs, particularly between those seeing it as a “gateway” to prostitution for young people and those worrying that a possible ban would in reality lead certain sex workers towards more dangerous physical practices. “The purchase of sexual acts online is the first gateway to physical pimping,” underlined co-rapporteur Isabelle Rauch (Horizons), adding: “The virtual world at the moment is a jungle, we have nothing to ensure that these young girls and young men can be protected.”
Conversely, MP Sarah Legrain (LFI) relayed the arguments of some sex workers, some of whom say they are “much safer than in physical contact with a client”. With this measure, these platforms “will close” and force sex workers to go “to platforms that are not at all regulated”, where they will be “exploited”, underlined the MP. “Not everything is equal”, between “caressing your feet in front of a camera” or “sexual penetration for money”, she added.
The repression of “evenge porn is hardened
“This is a counterproductive article that will force us to move towards platforms that are much less regulated, much less monitored and much less protective of our rights,” Zoé Faucher, a MYM user and one of the spokespersons for a collective of online sex workers, told AFP.
In this river law examined in committee before its arrival in the hemicycle on 1er October, several articles are devoted to the criminal response to sexual, gender-based and intra-family violence. In addition, the deputies toughened the repression of revenge porn – the publication of images of a sexual nature, often out of revenge after a breakup. The measure provides that consent to the creation or sending of intimate content does not constitute consent to its distribution. It also increases the penalties to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 euros for the non-consensual distribution of sexual content, and to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 euros when the distribution is carried out online.
THE deepfakes better repressed
The commission then looked into the deepfakes of a sexual nature; booming with the development of artificial intelligence. “In just a few clicks, you can create a deepfakeobviously without the consent of the person,” underlined co-rapporteur Émilie Bonnivard (LR). In 2023, there would be 500,000 deepfakes, compared to eight million in 2025, she said. “How many do you think are pornographic?” 98%,” she added. The deputies chose to repress not only the distribution, but also the mere creation of this content of a sexual nature carried out without the consent of the person represented.
They have also created a specific sanction when this content represents a minor, while AI is increasingly used by child criminals, “a massive weapon against children”, according to Émilie Bonnivard. These deepfakes lead to “an increase in addictive behavior among child offenders in the consumption of this content” with “a direct increase in the risk of committing the act”, she added.
Finally, the deputies adopted an amendment defended by Frédéric Valletoux (Horizons) aimed at repressing pornographic images representing minors, including when these are produced with major actors appearing to be minors, as well as content depicting incestuous rape. Frédéric Valletoux denounced videos which were widely available online and conveyed “dangerous fantasies”, particularly among young people.
