LOS ANGELES — The Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) has announced the launch of a monthly program recognizing its sponsors, which help to protect children on the Internet from exposure to age-inappropriate material.
According to ASACP executive director Tim Henning, there are many “good news” stories to share about the adult entertainment industry’s enduring commitment to keeping children out of and away from porn; including the pro-active efforts at self-regulation adopted by adult oriented websites and other operators. For example, adherence to the ASACP Code of Ethics, along with market-specific Best Practices, is a hallmark of these top-tier operators.
“ASACP wants to help spread this message to legislators and other relevant stakeholders in order to inform them of the facts while they consider the new laws and policies that will affect all online business owners,” Henning explained. “This is just one more way that ASACP helps digital media businesses protect themselves by protecting children, while publicly recognizing the substantial achievements these companies have accomplished in this regard.”
Each month going forward, ASACP will recognize five of its sponsors — providing exposure and recognition for the adult industry-leading companies which have committed to supporting ASACP and its vital mission, year after year. This initiative will also help provide a “face” to the wide range of legitimate enterprises serving one of the world’s most vibrant marketplaces.
Kicking off the inaugural list is ASACP Title Sponsor Southern Charms, which calls itself “the world’s largest amateur site,” with roots hailing back to 1996. According to the company, it provides amateur girls from all around the world the opportunity to have their own website — access to the collection of which is offered to viewers over the age of 18. Southern Charms prides itself on being a wholesome site that does not lie, cheat or steal from customers, and only provides images that are legal, licensed and with model releases on file, for “clean adult amateur fun.” “You will not find any underage models at Southern Charms,” the Southern Charms website proclaims. “Please rest assured that if someone communicates to us that they are interested in underage pictures of models, we will report it to the appropriate authorities immediately.” ASACP said it is a warning to Internet users seeking illegal material that the legitimate adult entertainment industry is neither a part of, nor party to, the trade in underage content; and it will not tolerate being used in this manner — assisting law enforcement through ASACP and other channels.
Next up is ASACP Corporate Sponsor Mansion Productions LLC, a longtime supporter of the association and its enduring mission of hope. Founded in 1997, Mansion Productions provides the technological infrastructure for many of the top companies in the digital media-marketing arena.
ASACP said that from the first commercial cascading billing and affiliate program software (MPA) to its Members Area System (MAS) content management software, Mansion Productions’ staff of in-house developers, designers and visionaries understands the technical difficulties and necessity of online child protection; providing clients with easy access to solutions such as RTA labeling, and custom applications, such as website warning pages and other measures to limit minors’ access to adult materials.
ASACP added that Mansion Productions serves as a great example of the diversity of support that is extended to ASACP, as it is a technology services provider rather than a media company; yet illustrates the type of cohesiveness and self-responsibility that the entertainment media industries need to collectively exhibit if burdensome new regulations are to be effectively contested, and free speech rights protected.
One ASACP Corporate Sponsor that is a household name is Adam & Eve, a veteran company that serves as a great example of how profits from porn and pleasure and social responsibility can go hand in hand. “Adam & Eve and AdamAndEve.com, America’s most trusted source for adult products, are pleased to be a sponsor of ASACP, and grateful for all the work it does,” director of public relations, Katy Zvolerin, stated. “Adam & Eve wants consenting adults to think ‘sex positive’ and be aware that they have the right and opportunity to enjoy safe sexual experiences within their own moral boundaries; and that they have the right to private avenues to purchase products for enhancing sexual pleasure.”
It is this focus on serving “consenting adults,” rather than seducing suggestive youth, that is at the heart of today’s legitimate and responsible adult entertainment industry, ASACP said. Zvolerin explained that Adam & Eve parent PHE’s mission is to be a profitable, customer-oriented, direct response marketing company in the adult products/sex education field, focused on long-term growth through the expansion of existing businesses and the development of new enterprises. The company seeks to maintain the highest ethical standards in its dealings with customers, suppliers and colleagues, while it takes the lead in setting national standards for sexually explicit materials. PHE strives to offer top-quality products that meet customers’ needs and desires, while maintaining an employee working environment that respects human dignity and talent, and rewards performance. Adam & Eve said it extends these significant efforts by funding an initiative to inform adults about the issues, trends and cultural influences impacting upon the American sexual experience — advocating sexual honesty and encouraging adults to exercise their political influence to help maintain their freedom. Adam & Eve’s “sex positive” messages also serve to entertain adults, encouraging them to “lighten up” about sex and to view it as a healthy, normal and positive experience that can be enjoyed within the privacy of one’s own home.
Another company focused on the privacy of the home is ASACP Corporate Sponsor I.M.L. SLU, known within the adult entertainment industry by its Imlive brand and accompanying PussyCash affiliate marketing program. According to vice president of marketing and business development, Shay Efron, ImLive.com is one of the world’s largest and most popular live webcam arenas, with more than 43 million registered members and more than 80,000 amateur webcam hosts, broadcasting live from their homes. “Imlive.com has been an ASACP sponsor for several years and is highly committed to online child safety,” Efron said. “We are proud to be associated with ASACP and actively support its continued dedication to making the Internet a safe place for children.” Serving its members, hosts and affiliates for more than a decade, Imlive.com combines high technology with grass-roots community, delivering a global experience that is available to the world’s web-based, tablet and mobile Internet users.
With features including free live chat, “happy hour” rooms, recorded sessions, special celebrity events, weekend parties and more, coupled with the platform’s universal access, it is vital that ImLive's commitment to limiting access to adults only is supported as well.
ASACP noted that one way that caring companies protect websites such as ImLive.com is through the use of the its Restricted To Adults (RTA) label, that proactively blocks access to age-inappropriate material by working with parental control and other filtering systems to prevent a user’s web browser from ever displaying this content.
Rounding out this initial look at ASACP supporters is Corporate Sponsor MXN Ltd, also known by its flagship website Porn.com and the PIMPROLL affiliate marketing program — a group on the frontline of online adult entertainment. According to PIMPROLL vice president Philip Bradbury, the company has always and continues to be committed to protecting children online.
“As family members ourselves, we have a strong understanding of our responsibility to protect minors and ensure that content depicting underage actors and actresses stays far away from our web properties,” Bradbury said. “As adult merchants we all have a responsibility, not only to inspect our own work, but to police the work of others who call this industry their own.”
“Only through the involvement and dedication of the industry as a whole can we ensure that the adult marketplace remains not only compliant with all applicable laws, but also sensitive to what the masses consider ethically acceptable,” Bradbury added, underscoring the need for legitimate companies to come together to do what is right.
While diverse in their business roles, ASACP said these five companies are unanimous in their support of the organization and among those exhibiting the commitment to corporate leadership and proactive self-regulation that exemplify today’s top-tier digital media companies.
For more information contact tim@asacp.org.
