Ask HN: How do adult-streaming platforms differ from random video chat ones?

1 points by cosmorocket 2y ago ↗ HN

I have an idea of building a random video chat webapp, similar to omegle, chatroulette, coomeet and so on. I assume it can be used for streaming adult content live, the very same way as what webcam sites do, but in a more informal way - a model on one side, a viewer on the other side, just a private p2p video call. An extra layer is bidirectional donations via crypto. Model and viewer can swap their roles any moment and donate either way, not just from the viewer to performer.

By looking at sites like omegle I don't see strict rules for those who show themselves via the camera. There are some warnings about forbidden illegal activities which you easily pass by clicking a button like "I am 18 or older and agree with all you have".

However, when I look at webcam sites, like Jasmin, Chaturbate or others, I see that there are usually two strict and clear categories of users - performers and models. And here, if a user wants to be a performer, she or he needs to go through a verification/kyc process, get approved and only then can start streaming.

I asked on some industry-related forums about what's the legal and ethical difference in these approaches and users which are webcam models say, that they want a random video chat webapp to work with to be like webcam sites - have verification process, clear rules for performers, e.g. payout timings, commissions, personal data and personal life safety (geolocation restrictions for viewers) and so on.

As I don't want to turn this webapp into an old-fashioned webcam platform (I am experimenting and hope it can be used in some other way than just adult entertainment), I wonder, how much from webcam platforms should I adopt from webcam sites in regards for legal, ethical and user support stuff? Currently the most important is legal one but I hope to build a strong supportive service for my users so other aspects matter too.

Please share your thoughts.

Thanks!

3 comments

[ 3.2 ms ] story [ 22.1 ms ] thread

PaulHoule 2y ago ↗

You can be utterly destroyed if your “performers” are under 18 and doing ‘nasty’ things. So that’s not a matter of being ethical it is a matter of survival.

So far as the other things a platform like that can create a lot of trouble in other ways.

Personally I would go either “all adult” or “no adult” in the case that moderation in the second case is easier.

cosmorocket 2y ago ↗

But, how do random video chats deal with this? I can click agree button even if I am under 18, nothing can stop me, and I don't go through verification process, so in theory the site can be easily abused. I know there is "Report" button usually, but is that the main way of detecting this kind of misuse behaviour for the site operators? What if nobody never clicks "Report" button even if there is illegal action happening?

To broaden the discussion, when I use Telegram or Whatsapp, I don't go through any verification process and again, anyone can show anything to anyone. Whose responsibility and liability is to detect such things and what consequences can be?

Mainly

https://www.eff.org/issues/cda230

1-1 communication is what it is. If you want to stop people from sexting you need something unreasonable like

https://chatcontrol.dk/en/

I do contrast the failure of what people described as "audio" apps like Clubhouse to the success of OnlyFans and such. It would be interesting to see if the same tech could be successfully applied to a different mark. Call me prudish, however, but I just wouldn't want to deal with the bullshit that comes along with other people's online sexual behavior.