OnlyFans is a popular platform where content creators can earn money from subscribers. While it might not be its original intention, but OnlyFans has become among the online destinations by many in the adult industry.
As a matter of fact, many content creators have made a living, and maybe more, by uploading raunchy content to the platform.
While things are fine in some parts of the world, especially in the western hemisphere, things can get complicated when content creators upload nudity and sex from countries where the profession itself and/or the act of pornography is illegal.
The eastern hemisphere is among the strictest places on Earth when it comes to online pornography, and in Asia, Thailand is no exception.
This time, the police in the country has arrested 19-year-old Nong Kai Nao (also known as Sukanya) and her boyfriend 20-year-old Korakott.
The two were caught together in a hotel they had been staying the the country's capital, Bangkok.
The couple was interrogated for five hours, and face a slew of charges, namely the production and distribution of 'obscene' content.
Because of creating and spreading raunchy content to OnlyFans, the couple had allegedly violated Section 14 (4)(5) of Thailand's heavily-contested Computer Crime Act, meaning that they face a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to 100,000 baht ($3,000).
Especially, Kai Nao, she also faces accusations of encouraging others to engage in 'inappropriate' sexual activity, via a YouTube video.
In an interview with a fellow Thai YouTuber, Kai Nao said she wanted people to "see sexuality as something normal."
At the time, she shared tips on how to create popular content and earn good money on OnlyFans, saying how she earned nearly a million baht in just three months on that platform.
Kai Nao says she believes that the body is natural and enjoys taking sexy pictures of herself.
Besides OnlyFans, she also shared her photos and videos on Twitter to a much larger audience. She has hope to use her legal education to promote sex work and make it acceptable in society.
As soon as the news came out, activists and many social media users are teaming up, condemning the police for ignoring the real crimes taking place in the country, like corruption, rape, murder, and theft.
They argued and wondered, why the police went to all the troubles to arrest some sex workers who are trying to earn their living by working on a legal platform with proper identity verification processes in place, while seemingly letting go, or even protecting rapists and murderers, and force their victims to accept 'compensation'.
"This country decides to butt in on people’s personal business instead of developing an effective tax system that can include these ‘sex creators.’ They will be able to generate income for the country in an era where government income is insufficient,” tweeted activist Tanawat “Ball” Wongchai, after the authorities warned that they would crack down on "obscene" content online.
Critics are questioning why actual criminals aren't being arrested.
Ball calls for the amendment of criminal codes to legally allow creators to produce and distribute adult entertainment without facing criminal charges.
He also said the charges should be dropped.
While sex work remains illegal under the law in Thailand, more and more young Thais see sex work as legitimate employment, and are considering it to no longer be illegal, so that they can enjoy rights and benefits.
Supporters use hashtags like #NongKaiNao to make their voices heard.
The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau of the Royal Thai Police defended their actions in a press conference, saying that they "must arrest" the young couple “to uphold the good morals and tradition in Thai society, otherwise people will be misled to think that it’s a right thing to do.”
When the case was unveiled, it only a day before that, that Col. Siriwat Deepor, spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, came out to warn the public that people who identify themselves as "Pornhubbers" or “sex creators” would face a stiff penalty for persuading others to engage in sexual activity and violating the Computer Crime Act.
The case came weeks after the immensely popular subscription site, walked back its plans in late August to suspend sexually explicit content after backlash from adult content creators.
Soon after the case blew up among people on the internet and the media, considering how young Kai Nao was when she made the sex tapes, the police granted them bail of about $3,000 each, under the condition that they not repeat their offense, according to local media.