A lawsuit has been filed against Passes, a direct-to-fan monetization platform backed by $40 million in Series A funding, alleging the distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Despite the platform’s guidelines prohibiting nude photos and videos, a creator, Alice Rosenblum, claims that Passes produced, possessed, and sold explicit content featuring her when she was a minor. This incident raises concerns about how fan platforms can be used to distribute illegal content.
The lawsuit, initially reported by The Information, names Passes, Alec Celestin, Lani Ginoza, and Passes founder and CEO Lucy Guo as defendants. Rosenblum alleges that each defendant was aware of her age and the explicit content. However, Passes maintains that Guo had no involvement and states there is “no record or recollection” of Guo interacting with Rosenblum.
Regardless of the lawsuit’s outcome, this case highlights the need for fan platforms to ensure they are not used for distributing illegal content. Passes has denied the allegations, stating that the claims are “completely and utterly false” and that any misconduct lies with Rosenblum’s talent manager, Alec Celestin.
Rosenblum alleges that Celestin, formerly director of Brand & Community at Fanfix, groomed her and directed her to take explicit photos and videos when she was seventeen. She also claims that Guo intervened to override safety measures that would have flagged her content as CSAM. Passes has denied these allegations, stating that Celestin is a former social media contractor who has exaggerated his relationship with the company.
The company emphasizes that it is a no-nudity platform and uses automated content moderation tools to scan for violative posts. Passes also employs a trust and safety team to review flagged content and determine compliance with company guidelines. The platform uses Microsoft PhotoDNA to automatically scan all images for CSAM, which would then be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Rosenblum’s lawyer, Rodney Villazor, stated that she looks forward to obtaining justice for herself and other victims. The case will proceed to court, where each defendant will have to answer for their actions.
The lawsuit has sparked concerns about the responsibility of fan platforms to prevent the distribution of illegal content. Passes has stated that it strictly prohibits explicit content and has measures in place to prevent such content from being shared on its platform.
In a statement, Passes reiterated that it is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for its users. The company will continue to work to prevent the distribution of illegal content and ensure that its platform is used in a responsible and lawful manner.
As the case moves forward, it will be important to consider the implications for fan platforms and their role in preventing the distribution of illegal content. The outcome of the lawsuit will likely have significant implications for the industry and may lead to changes in how fan platforms operate and regulate content.
Passes has taken steps to address the allegations, including denying the claims and emphasizing its commitment to providing a safe environment for users. However, the company will need to continue to work to prevent the distribution of illegal content and ensure that its platform is used in a responsible and lawful manner.
The case highlights the need for fan platforms to be vigilant in their efforts to prevent the distribution of illegal content. Passes and other platforms must work to ensure that their users are safe and that their platforms are not used for unlawful activities.
As the lawsuit progresses, it will be important to consider the potential consequences for Passes and the wider fan platform industry. The outcome of the case will likely have significant implications for how fan platforms operate and regulate content.
