A **fresh report** from Human Rights Watch highlights the persistent exploitation of webcam models working internationally, many of whom broadcast on well-known platforms such as Chaturbate to vast audiences globally. In spite of their substantial contributions to these platforms, these models frequently find themselves without protections from both the platforms’ Terms of Service and wider labor rights initiatives.
The report, titled [“I Learned How to Say No”](https://www.hrw.org/report/2024/12/09/i-learned-how-say-no/labor-abuses-sexual-exploitation-colombian-webcam-studios), offers a thorough examination of the harsh conditions prevalent in Colombian webcam studios situated in cities including Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, and Palmira. Human Rights Watch conducted interviews with 55 models working in studios, alongside Colombian officials, representatives from the U.S. State Department, and experts in anti-trafficking, to capture the alarming situations confronting workers in this sector.
### Exploitation Behind the Camera
Numerous models interviewed, along with Colombian sex worker-led organizations such as [La Liga de Salud Trans](https://ligadesaludtrans.org/) and [Corporación Calle 7 Colombia](https://www.facebook.com/calle7colombia/?locale=es_LA), reported enduring “deplorable” working conditions. These conditions included unsanitary settings, incessant monitoring, and exhausting shifts lasting up to 24 hours. Models frequently expressed ignorance regarding the Terms of Service associated with the platforms they used, as their accounts were created and managed by the studios. This absence of transparency rendered them susceptible to wage theft and sexual exploitation.
For example, very few webcam platforms offer protections for models to take breaks during live performances. Studios often coerced models into remaining online for prolonged periods, threatening to lower their pay or viewer engagement if they did not comply. This pressure illustrates the absence of protections for workers in the industry, even in places like Colombia, where sex work is decriminalized—a policy that has broad support from sex worker, labor, and human rights activists.
“Sex workers ought to receive the same labor protections as all employees under international human rights law, yet the multi-billion-dollar webcam sector has largely evaded scrutiny for abuses within its supply chains,” remarked Erin Kilbride, author of the report and a researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Sexual exploitation is not a fundamental aspect of webcam modeling, but our findings suggest that the likelihood of exploitation in Colombian studios is exceedingly high.”
### Wage Theft and Studio Control
Labor infractions in webcam studios are extensively documented. Streaming platforms already take a considerable share of revenue—usually between 50 and 65 percent—but Colombian studios often claim an additional 70 percent of the remaining amount, leaving models with only a small portion of their earnings. Moreover, many studios maintain control over the models’ accounts, effectively compelling them to stay with the studio or risk losing their followers and income. This control also enables studios to circumvent platform verification systems that are intended to prevent minors from entering the business.
Human Rights Watch stressed that this exploitation is facilitated by the confluence of various systemic factors: feminized labor, stigma against sex work, the informal economy, and the gig-based platform economy. “Adult webcam platforms have largely escaped criticism for their direct involvement in and facilitation of the exploitation of studio-based webcam workers,” the report asserts.
### A Call for Accountability
In spite of the decriminalization of sex work in Colombia and the consent of the participating models, the ongoing lack of regulation in the webcam industry continues to threaten workers’ safety and rights. The report highlights the pressing need for labor protections that encompass webcam models, guaranteeing they receive the same dignity and respect as those in any other field.
The thriving billion-dollar webcam sector must endure increased scrutiny to confront the exploitation ingrained within its supply chains. Without comprehensive reforms, the cycle of abuse and coercion will continue, leaving numerous workers defenseless in an industry that thrives on their labor.