Anti-Slavery Commissioner calls for inquiry into exploitation on OnlyFans

The UK's Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Eleanor Lyons, has called for a public inquiry into potential exploitation on the online platform OnlyFans. This follows a BBC investigation that revealed abusive behaviour from 'agents' who allegedly used violence and intimidation to control women, with concerns of human trafficking and financial control.

The harms uncovered are not simply about online content. They concern real-world abuse and exploitation taking place offline against vulnerable individuals, many of them young women. Of particular concern was the documentary’s evidence relating to so-called ‘OnlyFans Managers’ and agencies exercising extensive third-party control over individuals’ accounts, finances, communications and lives.

— Eleanor Lyons, Anti-Slavery Commissioner

Ms Lyons has written to the chair of Parliament’s science, innovation, and technology committee, Dame Chi Onwurah, to highlight "serious allegations and evidence". Joined by the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Commercial Sexual Exploitation, Tonia Antoniazzi MP, she has called for an inquiry into the “extent and nature of exploitation” on OnlyFans.

The BBC investigation, entitled ‘OnlyFans: Inside the machine’, revealed abusive behaviour from OnlyFans ‘agents’, with one agent describing their methods as the ‘pimping method’. These managers were found to have used violence and intimidation to control women.

The investigation demonstrated patterns strongly suggestive of coercion and exploitation, including the withholding of earnings, intimidation, account control, surveillance, pressure to produce degrading or harmful content and violence, Ms Lyons added. The platform, which is based in the UK, has 4.6 million creators and takes a 20% cut of all subscription fees.

The investigation revealed patterns of coercion and exploitation.

A spokesperson for OnlyFans stated that they "take the safety of our users seriously and invest heavily in measures to protect our community, including strict onboarding processes, payment controls and ongoing account moderation, as well as collaborating closely with charities, expert groups and law enforcement to continuously evolve our safety features and support investigations… OnlyFans does not endorse or have relationships with management agencies, and cannot review or influence any contractual agreements creators choose to enter into outside the platform as we are not party to them."

About CARE

Eleanor Lyons - Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner — Official website for Eleanor Lyons as the UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.

• CARE (Christian Action Research and Education) is a registered charity that works to promote the Christian faith and to influence public policy and public opinion through research, education and advocacy.
• They focus on issues such as the sanctity of human life, family life, and sexual ethics.
• CARE has been actively involved in campaigning against exploitation and promoting safeguarding measures for vulnerable individuals.

Key Concerns Raised

• Coercion and exploitation of individuals, particularly young women.
• Use of violence and intimidation by 'OnlyFans Managers' or agencies.
• Financial control and withholding of earnings.
• Indicators of human trafficking.
• Real-world abuse and exploitation occurring offline.

CARE (Christian Action Research and Education) originally published "Anti-Slavery Commissioner calls for inquiry into exploitation on OnlyFans". Eden is sharing it to help connect you with their ministry.

CARE's 'Sexual Exploitation' Topic Page — This page on CARE's official website outlines their work against sexual exploitation, advocating for better laws to protect vulnerable individuals.