Cambridgeshire police investigated 41 crimes linked to OnlyFans in recent years, including revenge porn and blackmail.
There were 41 crimes reported, some involved revenge porn. Victims said private photos were shared without permission. Someone’s ex, for instance, shared videos. Another person’s pics ended up online. Some cases involved blackmail attempts. People got threats after images were from OnlyFans.
Police charged people in only three cases. They resolved one case in the community. Many cases closed without finding the suspect. In other cases, they identified a suspect, but there wasn’t enough evidence for action.
Sometimes, victims didn’t want to press charges. Police said they investigate all crime reports. They look for evidence to take action. Prosecution isn’t always doable; lack of evidence and victim cooperation matter.
OnlyFans is a huge industry. It makes billions each year. Police investigate serious crimes linked to it including rape, blackmail, and child abuse. OnlyFans says they work with law enforcement. Unlike other platforms, they know user identities and claim to be tough on abusers.
Police forces across the UK reported 1,613 crimes. These mentioned OnlyFans somehow. Some crimes weren’t directly linked to the site; mentioning OnlyFans in the report was enough. Some women claimed they had to do sex work. Controlling partners forced them to use OnlyFans.
There were also rape reports mentioning the site. Kids used it, which breaks the rules. OnlyFans says kids aren’t allowed. They require consent for all content now. UK police investigated 1,250 OnlyFans related cases.
Only a few cases led to charges. Most faced “evidential difficulties.” Victims often didn’t support prosecuting the suspects. Many cases closed without identifying anyone. Reported crimes seem to be increasing. It rose a lot from 2020 to 2023.
Police need victims to report these crimes. Tech companies should remove harmful content. The government wants tech firms held responsible. It emphasizes consent education for young people. They need to stop harmful online behavior early, it is a must indeed.
The government also wants online platforms safe. They must remove illegal content. This protects communities from dangerous info. Now, they are using all options to protect kids. Here’s how the crimes break down yearly: In 2020, there were three crimes. In 2021, the number jumped to fifteen. It dropped to four in 2022. Then, it rose back to eleven in 2023, and eight in 2024.