Netflix’s Hot Girls Wanted ‘outs’ sex workers sans permission

Netflix’s latest documentary series on the porn industry, Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On, has been accused of using footage of cam girls without their knowledge or consent.

Twitter user @_autumnkayy reportedly direct messaged the film’s official Twitter account after noticing her cam girl footage in the show. She was hit back with a somewhat patronising response about fair use.

@AspenFoxxx@hotgirlswanted Not even an apology for the possibility of outting us. pic.twitter.com/v5SBvHUxVN

— △⃒⃘McGanjagall (@_autumnkayy) April 22, 2017

The series is a six-part anthology series from the creators of the 2015 documentary Hot Girls Wanted. It is being marketed as an insight into the taboo work of sex workers.

“This unflinchingly honest series tells personal stories about people whose lives are affected by the explosion of the Internet where social media, pornography and virtual relationships are all just a click away,” its description reads.

The series is a six-part anthology series from the creators of the 2015 documentary Hot Girls Wanted

But the producers’ intentions remain ambiguous as they use a legal (but arguably unethical) defense for lifting sex workers’ content from the web.

@_autumnkayy@hotgirlswanted its like yes i’m sure in the eyes of the law that they have the rights to “fair use” but in a morality point they are completely out of line

— ⋙ Aspen ⋘ (@AspenFoxxx) April 22, 2017

Some Twitter users are questioning whether or not the footage has been used in “fair use.” Legally in the US, fair use only covers educational content, and excludes use for entertainment or commercial purposes.

It is also rendered moot when the the usage impacts the copyright owner’s market, or causes them substantial harm.

@_autumnkayy@AspenFoxxx@hotgirlswanted “Section 107 of the Copyrights Act calls for consideration of the following four factors in evaluating a question of fair use” (this is #4): pic.twitter.com/ZEvydj1jYv

— 👑 (@TheAuroraXoXo) April 22, 2017

Sex workers who have their footage used without permission run the risk of family or friends recognising them when watching the series.

Sex workers go to great lengths to use location blocks. @hotgirlswanted knowingly used SW recordings WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT, endangering them

— Tesla (@teslalamour) April 24, 2017

Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On has not yet addressed the issue publicly. Netflix has been contacted for statement.