MelRose Michaels, founder of Sex Work CEO and advocate for online adult creators, has released a video criticizing the effectiveness and intentions of U.S. age verification policies. Titled “Destroying Age Verification in Less Than 5 Minutes | Exposing the Truth,” the video available on YouTube questions the claimed benefits of these laws, which are supposedly designed to protect minors and enhance online safety.
Michaels argues that these policies do not sufficiently protect children and instead threaten privacy and internet security by necessitating ID verification for accessing adult content. This could lead to personal data exposure to third parties, including financial institutions, potentially resulting in discrimination and a higher susceptibility to phishing scams.
The video demonstrates how easily these verification systems can be circumvented using methods like VPNs, thereby undermining their effectiveness. Michaels further notes that strict regulations may drive users to unregulated platforms outside U.S. jurisdiction, increasing the risk of encountering dangerous content.
She emphasizes that instead of making the internet safer, these policies complicate and hinder the lawful creation and consumption of adult content. Michaels encourages viewers to oppose such legislation and advocate for their privacy rights and access to safe, consensual adult content.
“In the current climate, adult performers may not fully grasp the impact of these policies on their work and revenue,” Michaels stated. “I believe the best approach is to challenge age verification directly and to educate fans on why they should also stand against these measures.”
Michaels, who you can follow on X, invites the public to support online privacy by opposing restrictive adult content legislation through the initiative, Defend Online Privacy.
