xHamster to crack down on rape porn, adopts 'Brock Turner Rule'

It's not just the general public around the world that are up in arms about the Stanford rapist Brock Turner – the porn industry is outraged, too. Stanford University student Brock Turner was recently convicted of sexual assault after attacking an unconscious woman behind a skip on the university's campus in January 2015.

It is believed that Turner might have sent a picture of his victim's breasts to friends – just the latest in a disturbing trend of people who film and photograph crimes in order to humiliate victims.

In light of these events, free pornographic video-sharing website xHamster has decided to ban all videos that feature rape or non-consensual sex, known as the 'Brock Turner Rule'.

"Buzz words have been put into effect so any keyword corresponding to non-consensual sex will not be uploaded and the user will be banned," xHamster spokesman Alex Hawkins told Huffington Post.

Users typically search for the videos they want to watch by typing in specific keywords, which then pull up relevant search results.

From now on, any videos uploaded with keyword tags such as 'forced sex', 'rape' or 'non-consensual' will be flagged and reviewed by xHamster's team. If they are found to contain inappropriate content, the video would be removed and the uploader's account permanently deleted.

Users that try to search for this content would receive a message advising them to "consult with a professional", together with a hyperlink to 7cups.com, a web and mobile app-based service that offers online therapy and counselling.

No more 'sleeping sex', either

xHamster said that it would also be banning any videos that depict scenarios whereby a person is having sex with a sleeping partner or wherein someone hypnotises their partner before sex. In addition, all videos that depict rough sex or BDSM would only be allowed if it can be clearly proven in the video that the sex is consensual between performers.

"Our size and influence in the online adult world has proven to be a force for change, and we want to use it not only for the advancement of transgender rights, but to end rape culture for good," said Hawkins.

On Pornhub, one of xHamster's biggest competitors, searching for the keywords 'rape' and 'forced sex' turns up no results, however, 'sleeping sex' turns up 969 results and 'revenge porn' also turns up 969 results.

In the UK, the Sentencing Council has announced new proposals to give minors aged between 10-17 tougher sentences if they choose to film their crimes and post footage of them on social media.