FAQ

Is there explicit content on this site?

No. The Observer is safe-for-work trade analysis of the industry as a business — economics, law, technology. Nothing explicit.

How big is the adult industry really?

Large (tens of billions of dollars globally) but genuinely hard to measure — be sceptical of precise figures. Economics.

Who actually holds power in the industry?

Increasingly, the payment processors and banks — the “high-risk” classification is the sector's master variable. The payments chokepoint.

What's the biggest regulatory change happening?

The global wave of online age-verification laws — reshaping access faster than any market force. Age verification.

How is AI affecting the industry?

Profoundly and unpredictably — generative content, deepfake-consent harms, and new verification tools all at once. Tech & AI.

Why cover this at all?

Because it's a major digital industry that pioneers tech, shapes internet law and payments, and is under-covered as serious business. About.