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posted by Fnord666 on Monday May 06 2019, @06:10AM   Printer-friendly
from the porn-drives-technology dept.

https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/2019/05/mindgeek/

Streaming services like Hulu and Netflix are well known for leveraging data, and characterizing users. They're household names. But you've probably never heard of another streaming giant who's just as ubiquitous. Mindgeek, the world's biggest porn company. With corporate holdings like Pornhub, Xvideos, Redtube, and YouPorn there's a good chance you've used their services. And just like Netflix, they're keeping tabs on your interests and lobbying their own. Coordinating a vast net of data collection using the power of monopoly and the state that's altogether uncomfortable.

Coining themselves a leader "in the design, development, marketing, SEO and management of highly trafficked websites." It's not readily apparent Mindgeek is a porn colossus involved in the same upselling, data collection, and curated advertising that sustains the digital economy. Even less obvious is Mindgeek's involvement in the proliferation of dystopian and draconian legislation. Including new legislation in the United Kingdom.

You may know the United Kingdom plans on implementing a system, called AgeID, which forces adult websites to ask users for age verification; via credit card, passport, or driver's license. Coined the 'Porn Pass' AgeID will offer a database by which users can verify their identities before viewing adult content. Guess who owns the AgeID verification system. Mindgeek.

Additional reading: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/03/style/britain-age-porn-law.html


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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Bot on Monday May 06 2019, @07:02AM (7 children)

    by Bot (3902) on Monday May 06 2019, @07:02AM (#839532) Journal

    This is why I say capitalism never existed. Big fish does not want to submit to the fabled free market just as bureaucrats do not want to submit to the will of the people in the other fairy tale, communism.

    I guess chastity, or producing your own porn, is the ethical choice here.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 06 2019, @07:07AM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 06 2019, @07:07AM (#839534)

    Local AI-generated porn.

    • (Score: 3, Insightful) by c0lo on Monday May 06 2019, @09:34AM

      by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Monday May 06 2019, @09:34AM (#839561) Journal

      Careful with that one, your bot may generate some KP just for the lulz. Then snitch on you, too.

      --
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
  • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday May 06 2019, @08:10AM (2 children)

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday May 06 2019, @08:10AM (#839542) Journal

    Mmmm - free trade has existed, in small pockets, in rare instances. The UK actually practiced it, for a period of about fifty years. President Grant more or less mocked them for it, and rejected it for the US.

    • (Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 06 2019, @02:56PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 06 2019, @02:56PM (#839647)

      I hear the UK also has some true scotsmen

      • (Score: 2) by Bot on Tuesday May 07 2019, @01:22AM

        by Bot (3902) on Tuesday May 07 2019, @01:22AM (#839944) Journal

        UK has ALL of them, actually.

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  • (Score: 2) by MostCynical on Monday May 06 2019, @09:00AM (1 child)

    by MostCynical (2589) on Monday May 06 2019, @09:00AM (#839555) Journal

    Chastity AND producing your own porn?
    Niche stuff...

    Make it extra kimky for pro-brexit types: only UK-born performers.

    --
    "I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
    • (Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 06 2019, @12:08PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 06 2019, @12:08PM (#839581)

      only UK-born performers.

      No one would watch that.