At this moment, Thai adult content creators are forced to work in the shadows, labelled as criminals, despicable, and even less than human. But supporters of the legalization of sex work say that for those who want to pursue careers in porn, Onlyfans or other platforms, they don’t have full access to labor rights.
Recently, porn creators have been criminalised for simply trying to scratch out a living. Many within the sex worker rights community argue that adult content creators are caught between a rock and a hard place.
Following the arrest of now the Onlyfans content creator, Kainaoa, on pornography charges on September 21, adult content creators and supporters have continued to call for the legalisation of pornographic videos and sex work.
“It’s a job like any other job,” Chaitong Yingpeant, a famous independent adult content creator and a leader of Charoen Porn, told Thai Enquirer. “ Legalisation will protect us if we face sexual harassment or invasion of privacy.”
On November 26, Chaitong’s socially independent group petitioned the House of Representatives to legalize pornography in Thailand. Chaitong told Thai Enquirer that he believes a proposal to amend Section 287 of the Criminal Code will allow the country to recognize adult content creators as legitimate work and protect the rights of sex workers.
The group’s activism comes in response to the government’s decision years ago to ban adult content on websites, citing Section 287 of the criminal code. All the advertising and distribution of pornography on online platforms are also prohibited.
“Without equality, we are unable to report our income and pay taxes,” Chaitong explained. “We don’t have proper access to state welfare. We can’t demand to be protected under the law, and we are not entitled to the copyright laws”.
Critics of Thailand’s anti-porn laws say that banning adult content presents an odd dichotomy, given that in 2019, Thailand watched more videos on websites like Pornhub than any other country. Thailand is also widely known around the world for its sex trade.
Tunyawaj Kamolwongwat, an MP from Move Forward Party has been pushing for sex work registration law for one year. Tunyawaj told Thai Enquirer that the law should not enforce perceived morality, and that criminalization is largely because many conservatives view the trade as a crime, harmful, or the distribution of negative images to young people.
“Morality is an individual’s perspective,” Tunyawaj said. “We must respect individuals’ views. Laws should be set as a standard to protect everyone equally.”
Due to the criminalization of their work, sex workers face disproportionate risks of violence and threats as they cannot seek out police assistance if they are assaulted or abused.
Many adult content creators are also being pressured on social media platforms. Not only are they shamed for sexual behavior, many have been threatened to reveal their identities or even blackmailed to hide their identities by performing sex acts to strangers.
Baby Peach, a 20-year-old female adult content creator who has been performing behind a mask on Onlyfans and Twitter for two years, told Thai Enquirer that she feels unsafe as she has received many threatening messages from internet users.
“Sometimes I feel really anxious, and I think it’s understandable as I receive threatening messages from strangers,” Baby said. “Sometimes the messages are clear that a person wants to know who I am and where I live.”
Baby also said that she’s aware of who those strangers are in some cases, but there’s nothing she can do. “Sometimes I know where those messages were sent from,” she said. “But I can’t file a report with the police, so I let it go.”
She has repeatedly felt stigmatized by her work as well. However, Tunyawaj, the Move Forward MP, said that stigma continues to worsen Thailand’s cultural attitudes towards sex work, it’s as a barrier for adult content creators to access to health, human rights, and protection.
Not only does the government only focus on setting social standards by morality, Tunyawaj said, it will block individuals from needed protection.
“People are using morality as an excuse to take advantage of adult content workers,” Tunyawaj said. “They will become victims.”