Ban On Gaming Ads.. Adult next?
 

On March 24th the World Trade Organisation issued a decision against the United States on the prohibition of Internet gambling with the comment that this violated that country's free trade obligations.

Up to this point numerous transators of money to gambling websites were pressured to stop sending funds to these sites. This included Western Union and in the past included VISA, Mastercard etc. This action was also deemed by the WTO to be in violation of free trade agreements.

In the last few days a number of subpoenas have been issued in the US to major search engines and other broadcasters to pressure them to stop carrying advertisements/promotional material for gambling websites. Not coincidence? Google, Overture and Yahoo among others are ceasing all promotion of gambling sites, - although this appears to be restricted to sites within the US. Search engine companies with global sites do appear, in the majority, to being continuing the promotion of gaming sites in other countries. (In almost all other countries this is not an offense).

Several US lawyers consider already have same opinion as the WTO and this latest attempt at curtailing the promotion of gaming sites intrudes on the rights of US people. They also consider it is an intrusion of the free speech rights of companies promoting gaming sites within the US, since these companies are basically disseminating information.

There are some principles here which, if extended further, could affect the adult industry. The current scenario is that the US government have, thanks courtesy to VISA etc hahahahahahahahaation on Third Party Payment Processing, all information needed on membership sites to commence issuing indictments for any offenses they wish. This method has been used by the DOJ in the past to prosecute participants in gaming sites.

Tho these are many aspects/implications of the above, it is clear that the US goverment does not consider it's citizens to have the sense/judgement to exercise some rights which they deem "inappropriate".

Where this will end... well.. who knows... the rest of the world is OK tho :-)