AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Department of Health and Human Services has declined to confirm or deny whether the “health warnings” mandated by the state’s recent anti-porn age verification law are supported by any official documentation or statement produced by that office.

As XBIZ reported, the Republican-authored HB 1181 was passed by the Texas legislature with bipartisan support in May and will go into effect September 1.

The new Texas age verification law — part of a state-by-state campaign by religious conservatives and anti-porn activists to outlaw all sexual material online — compels adult websites to post pseudoscientific anti-porn propaganda disclaimers declaring that “pornography is potentially biologically addictive, is proven to harm human brain development, desensitizes brain reward circuits, increases conditioned responses and weakens brain function.”

HB 1181 is a much-augmented version of Louisiana’s age verification law and its many copycats, and echoes the debunked “porn addiction” language of faith-based anti-porn groups.

XBIZ asked the Press Office of the Texas Department of Health and Human Services if the department could provide any documentation or statement pertaining to those warnings, and clarify whether the language of the warnings has its basis in any documentation or statement produced by the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.

After requesting several days to provide a reply to the query, Press Officer Tiffany Young declined to answer, deflecting the questions with an invitation to contact “the authors of this bill for information about how it originated.”

XBIZ also contacted Texas Department of Health and Human Services Chief of Staff Kate Hendrix and the bill’s main sponsor, Rep. Matt Shaheen (R), but received no reply to the same questions.

Pseudoscientific ‘Health Warnings’ of Unclear Origin

HB 1181 would compel any website showing adult content to post the following pseudoscientific warnings:

“TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WARNING: Pornography is potentially biologically addictive, is proven to harm human brain development, desensitizes brain reward circuits, increases conditioned responses, and weakens brain function.”

“TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WARNING: Exposure to this content is associated with low self-esteem and body image, eating disorders, impaired brain development, and other emotional and mental illnesses.”

“TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WARNING: Pornography increases the demand for prostitution, child exploitation, and child pornography.”

The warnings must be posted “in 14-point font or larger” on adult sites’ landing pages, as well as on any advertisements for adult sites.

The websites are also compelled by the state to post the phone number of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s help line. However, there is no scientific basis for the belief — largely promoted by religious anti-porn activists — that there is any biological equivalence between watching adult content and actual substance abuse.

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) Director of Public Affairs Mike Stabile told XBIZ on Tuesday, “It’s shocking that the Department of Health and Human Services can provide no support, data or background for the pseudoscientific anti-porn warning that the state of Texas now requires to be posted on websites — in their name.”

Stabile added, “As we’ve long known, these warnings aren’t based on actual science or evidence, but on the moral and ideological objections of legislators. It speaks volumes that the Department will not defend the law in the slightest, and cannot explain where it came from.”

Earlier this month, FSC filed a legal challenge in Texas over HB 1181, and were joined as co-plaintiffs by an array of adult platforms and workers, including MG Premium, MG Freesites, Webgroup Czech Republic, NKL Associates, Sonesta Technologies, Sonesta Media, Yellow Production, Paper Street Media, Neptune Media, Mediame, Midus Holdings and Jane Doe, an adult content creator.

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Instagram this week censored several posts promoting the acclaimed film history podcast “You Must Remember This,” including SFW images from ’90s erotic drama “Indecent Proposal,” starring Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson and Robert Redford.

The podcast’s most recent season, “Erotic ’90s,” focuses on mainstream Hollywood productions of that decade that highlighted sexuality in their plots, images and marketing.

Hosted by film historian, critic and podcaster Karina Longworth, “You Must Remember This” is known for offering nuanced, thought-provoking takes on overlooked aspects of film history.

On Monday, the podcast’s Instagram account posted the following announcement:

“We have been forced to take down some images and videos to comply with Instagram’s ‘recommendation guidelines’ regarding nudity and sexual activity. All of these posts featured promotional images for and/or discussion of major releases by mainstream studios and publishers from the ’90s.

“We are often asked if we think Hollywood will ever again make movies geared toward a mature audience, as they did more frequently in the ’80s and ’90s. Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but everything is connected. What incentive would major corporations have to make and release movies involving sex if they knew they — and their viewers — would be handcuffed in terms of how they could promote and discuss these movies on social media?”

Longworth’s team shared with XBIZ screen captures of Instagram’s messages censoring posts that repurposed short TikTok videos where Longworth, shot in black and white, promotes episodes about “Indecent Proposal,” “Showgirls” and Madonna’s movie career around the time of her “Sex” art photo book.

In the videos, Longworth speaks below short montages of SFW images from those films and the book.

Instagram removed the content and penalized the account with a standard “Your account can’t be shown to non-followers” warning.

By way of explanation, Instagram only offered the following generic message:

Our Recommendations Guidelines help to promote content that fosters a safe community on Instagram.

We try not to recommend content that may be sexually suggestive.

This includes:

– Digitally created content that displays nudity

– All accompanying text or imagery associated with sexual activity or nudity, including hashtags, terms and bio information.

According to Instagram, the small photo montages above Longworth’s entirely nonsalacious analysis of the material were in violation of one of the five categories of content that the platform allows, but considers ineligible for recommendations:

“Content that may be sexually explicit or suggestive, such as pictures of people in see-through clothing. (We remove content that contains adult nudity or sexual activity.) We use technology to try to avoid showing sexually explicit or suggestive content to people under 16 years old.”

As XBIZ reported, in January, Meta’s own Oversight Board — a panel of experts selected by the company to deliberate on content decisions —recommended that the company clarify arbitrary and vague definitions concerning nudity, sexual activity and sexual solicitation.

Aug 22, 2023 12:30 PM PDT

LOS ANGELES — ARLCash is touting the 2023 XBIZ Europa Awards nominations of three of its affiliate sites.

PascalsSubSluts.com, LaceyStarr.com and LukeHardyXXX.com have each received a nomination for Performer/Director Site of the Year.

“We’re delighted, but not surprised,” said ARL’s business manager. “All three of these performers have been working hard and creating some of their best content ever. Plus, as we’ve seen with previous nominations, the recognition translates to conversions.”

Industry members and fans can find voting information for all categories here. Industry voting ends Aug. 21. Fan voting ends Sept. 11.

Visit ARLCash and follow the company on X.com.

Aug 22, 2023 12:29 PM PDT

HONG KONG — Fantasy Toys Factory will be exhibiting at the 2023 Asia Adult Expo, from Aug. 29-31.

“2023 will be a successful year for Fantasy Toys,” said a rep. “As customized sex dolls become more and more realistic, coupled with the development of artificial intelligence technology, the VMDoll brand is increasingly recognized by consumers.”

Nick Zhang, president of Fantasy Toys, enthused about the event.

“At the upcoming Hong Kong Adult Products Fair, we will present our latest research and development products,” he said. “We attach great importance to technological innovation and product research and development, and customized sex dolls will definitely be popular at this exhibition.”

Visit Factory Toys online.

Aug 22, 2023 12:28 PM PDT

LOS ANGELES — Riley Jean will be livestreaming on her OnlyFans in celebration of Find Your Inner Nerd Day, tomorrow at 3 p.m. (PDT).

“Find Your Inner Nerd Day was created to encourage everyone to embrace their inner geek, no matter how much they like or dislike it,” said a rep. “It’s a fun way to remind us that being a nerd is actually cool and something to be proud of — whether you’re into comic books, sci-fi movies, video games or anything else nerdy.”

Jean enthused about the livestream.

“There’s nothing sexier than embracing your nerdy side,” she said. “Having the confidence to be yourself and do what you love no matter what people say is so powerful, and as someone who went into the tech field fairly young, I certainly faced a lot of challenges — even among my own peers.”

Watch the livestream on Riley Jean’s OnlyFans and follow her on X.com.

Aug 22, 2023 12:26 PM PDT

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Sex education coach Alyssa Ljub is the most recent guest on the “Skinfluencer Success” podcast, hosted by Tanya Tate.

In the episode, Ljub discusses her career, her own podcast and sex education.

“I’m thrilled to have Alyssa join me on Skinfluencer Success,” said Tate. “Her expertise in sex education and ability to communicate important topics with clarity and compassion make this episode truly special. I encourage all our fans to tune in and learn from this insightful conversation.”

Listen to the episode here.

Find Alyssa Ljub’s social media links here.

LOS ANGELES — Brazzers has signed Alex Jones to an exclusive contract.

“Alex has been on our radar for some time. Not only is he a consummate professional but he has been highly requested across our production landscape by both crew and talent,” said a Brazzers rep. “We’re thrilled to begin working even closer with Alex exclusively on ZZ.”

Jones enthused about the contract.

“Honestly to me, and I hope this doesn’t sound too cheesy, but being a Brazzers contract star means you’ve made it to the top in the adult industry,” he said. “I feel like everyone’s striving to be a part of something big and I couldn’t think of anyone bigger and better than Brazzer.

“What I’m looking forward to the most is putting out some amazing scenes and attending the Brazzers industry events. I know it’s going to be an amazing time,” he added.

For more information, visit Brazzers.

Follow Jones on Twitter.

LOS ANGELES — Honey Play Box has unveiled its new app-controlled, wearable vibrator, Loli.

The dual vibrator features internal and external stimulation, can be controlled remotely, and is small enough to fit inside the user’s panties to be used on the go.

“We believe that good things come in small packages,” said a rep. “Which is why we packed two kinds of stimulation into one petite, amazing toy. Don’t be fooled by its cute appearance and size, Loli is actually one of the most powerful wearable vibrators on the market. It surpasses all the competition, and the fact that it can do that while still fitting comfortably in a pair of panties is remarkable.

“With its smart, app-controlled design, you can wear it wherever you go and let your partner take control, or you can transform long distances into intimate romance with Loli,” the rep added.

For more information, visit HoneyPlayBox.

MELBOURNE, Australia — While promoting new Indian thriller “Kennedy” in Australia, Sunny Leone spoke about her transition between adult and mainstream work a decade ago, acknowledging the industry that helped make her a local and international icon.

The Canadian-born Leone spoke to Australian newspaper the Sydney Morning Herald to promote “Kennedy,” which closed the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne on Sunday.

“If you told me 11 years ago that Sunny Leone from adult films would be on the red carpet at Cannes with a film, I would have said you were crazy,” she told the Herald. “I went through a lot, fighting political groups, governments, fanatic groups, people with their own views of who I am, and media outlets writing so many crazy things about me. So it was pretty amazing. They couldn’t take that away.”

Speaking of her initial forays into mainstream modeling after she turned 18, Leone explained that she would go to auditions or photo shoots and found that world “a little dark.”

But then, she added, “everything switched gears to adult, which was not dark, it was very happy. Everything’s out in the open, it’s not some hidden secret of what people are expecting of you.”

Leone credits her 2011 appearance on India’s “Bigg Boss” reality show as an important milestone both for her viability as a mainstream celebrity and for dispelling anti-sex-work stigma.

“My thinking, when I was offered that show, was, ‘If I step one foot in this house, then mission accomplished,’” she said. “Because that had never happened before, someone from the adult industry on national television, on a prime-time show that everybody watches. I thought, ‘If I go home tomorrow, I’m OK with it because I’ve basically set up the next round of what my life would be because of this show.’ And now it’s been 11 years and I’ve never left India.”

India, Leone believes, “is coming into the zone” of more free expression, including sexually. Still, she can’t help feeling there’s a double standard applied to her.

“If I do a kissing scene, I get articles written about me that are not so positive,” she noted. “But if somebody else does the same thing or more, it’s considered bold, and how brave she is. It’s really quite interesting.”

Leone also revealed that the last decade has shed light on her entire life path, including her adult fame.

“I’m not ashamed, I don’t feel bad,” she concluded. “I’m extremely happy about my journey.”

PURCHASE, N.Y. — Mastercard last week informed acquirers about updates to its Business Risk Assessment and Mitigation (BRAM) standards for adult content, including verbiage addressing deepfakes.

The new language first appeared in the March 2023 version of the credit card company’s document answering frequently asked questions (FAQs) about adult content payment processing.

According to the BRAM document sent to acquirers last week regarding adult content:

If consent cannot be established, the content is considered in violation of the adult content and services requirements and therefore, must not be published or must be removed immediately.

For the avoidance of doubt, if the adult content includes an image or strong likeness to an actual person and that person has not provided consent for the use of their image/likeness including, but not limited to, the creation of deepfake content, the content is considered in violation of Mastercard adult content and services requirements and therefore, must not be published or must be removed immediately.

Acquirers — also known as acquiring banks or merchant banks — are financial institutions that maintain the accounts necessary for a merchant, such as an adult business or creator, to accept credit cards. Some payment processors are also acquirers.

Payment processors are responsible for passing along Mastercard’s new deepfake policies to their merchants that are adult businesses and creators.