Voyeurweb
Encyclopedia
Voyeurweb is a free photo sharing
website with a focus on nudity
and some softcore
amateur pornography
. Started in August 1997, it has since become a very popular amateur
pornographic website
. Since July 1999 it is among the 1000 most visited websites worldwide according to Alexa.
Originally part of the site was genuinely voyeuristic in nature, including "peeping tom" shots of non-consenting nude women in their homes, but much of that material was scaled back in 2003.
The concept is similar to web 2.0
or porn 2.0
, though uploaded content is moderated before it is displayed. The site differs from many other pornographic websites in that it is free and only shows ad for its own hardcore
member sites. Voyeurweb also operates a forum
, a Wiki dedicated to sexology
and features most of it photos in an additional iPhone
-friendly interface.
VoyeurWeb is softcore. One of its functions is to draw participants to its sister site RedClouds, which is a subscription site.
. Voyeurweb's internal rules forbid underage and/or underage appearing models. The owners lived in Amsterdam, Netherlands; and Tampa, Florida, but residences and offices are moved frequently to avoid legal problems. The actual location of the so-called Voyeurweb mothership, which includes software development, global network administration, central processing of content and central media administration is in Kiev, Ukraine since 2004.
The domain name
was registered by a company in July 1997. The site is run from leased cage space with Bell Canada in Canada, France Telecom in Europe and iiNet in Australia using intelligent Geo-IP distribution.
VoyeurWeb is the softcore version of the Voyeurweb sites. RedClouds is its hardcore membership site. Homeclips is its video membership site, and Funbags its archive site.
Voyeurweb once had Watchcams, which was the "original" cam house, and was the forerunner to Voyeurdorm by a matter of weeks.
Voyeurweb, Watchcams and similar sites led to other ventures, such as Girls Gone Wild
(an unrelated company).
were allegedly no longer shown. This departure from no-holds-barred voyeuristic photography changed the site's concept significantly, as it was one of the first to offer its visitors both photos and videos of a true "voyeuristic" nature, including material containing non-consenting subjects. However, photos such as those of topless sunbathers on beaches are still displayed without consent from the women being photographed, in circumstances where Voyeurweb feels that the women did not have a "reasonable expectation of privacy".
While Porn 2.0
websites like Voyeurweb, PornoTube and YouPorn have garnered tremendous popularity and interest since their inception, they are not without their critics. Some concern has been raised about the copyright, privacy and legal ramifications of large quantities of free, user-generated
, pornographic content on the internet.
Concerns have also surfaced over the inability to verify the age of the persons depicted in the photos and the fact that the subjects are often photographed without their consent, especially where the candid nature of the shot is its main appeal. As with any Web 2.0-type system, there is also the possibility of copyright
ed photos being uploaded to the site but viewers are asked to be alert to this and report infringements via a "Report Contri" button found on every page with photos, allowing users to "Report a stolen or suspicious contri" (contribution).
Photo sharing
Photo sharing is the publishing or transfer of a user's digital photos online, thus enabling the user to share them with others . This function is provided through both websites and applications that facilitate the upload and display of images...
website with a focus on nudity
Nudity
Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...
and some softcore
Softcore
Softcore pornography is a form of filmic or photographic pornography or erotica that is less sexually explicit than hardcore pornography. It is intended to tickle and arouse men and women. Softcore pornography depicts nude and semi-nude performers engaging in casual social nudity or non-graphic...
amateur pornography
Amateur pornography
Amateur pornography is a category of pornography that features models or actors performing without pay, or for whom this material is their first or only paid modeling work. Reality pornography is professionally made porn which seeks to emulate the style of amateur pornography...
. Started in August 1997, it has since become a very popular amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
pornographic website
Internet pornography
Internet pornography is pornography that is distributed by means of various sectors of the Internet, primarily via websites, peer-to-peer file sharing, or Usenet newsgroups...
. Since July 1999 it is among the 1000 most visited websites worldwide according to Alexa.
Concept
Voyeurweb is a photo sharing site designed to allow people to upload nude and pornographic photos and videos onto the site, which are published on daily lists after review. Uploaded pictures are usually available on the site after a few days. The content includes different sections. Awards are given to best voted photo submissions for each section on a monthly base.Originally part of the site was genuinely voyeuristic in nature, including "peeping tom" shots of non-consenting nude women in their homes, but much of that material was scaled back in 2003.
The concept is similar to web 2.0
Web 2.0
The term Web 2.0 is associated with web applications that facilitate participatory information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design, and collaboration on the World Wide Web...
or porn 2.0
Porn 2.0
Porn 2.0, named after the Web 2.0 is a concept of internet-based websites featuring user-generated content. These ideas are sometimes described as intermediate social networking mediums using dynamics contents such as user-based categorizing, webcam hosting in ?tube as opposed to static contents in...
, though uploaded content is moderated before it is displayed. The site differs from many other pornographic websites in that it is free and only shows ad for its own hardcore
Hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography is a form of pornography that features explicit sexual acts. The term was coined in the second half of the 20th century to distinguish it from softcore pornography. It usually takes the form of photographs, often displayed in magazines or on the Internet, or films. It can also...
member sites. Voyeurweb also operates a forum
Internet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
, a Wiki dedicated to sexology
Sexology
Sexology is the scientific study of human sexuality, including human sexual interests, behavior, and function. The term does not generally refer to the non-scientific study of sex, such as political analysis or social criticism....
and features most of it photos in an additional iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
-friendly interface.
VoyeurWeb is softcore. One of its functions is to draw participants to its sister site RedClouds, which is a subscription site.
Ownership
Voyeurweb.com is currently owned by a shell corporation registered in the jurisdiction of Panama. It has operated under the guise of operating in Germany (true); Panama (false); The Turk and Caicos Islands (false); San Francisco, USA (true); New York, USA (true); Toronto, Canada (partially true); and the Amsterdam, Netherlands (true). While operating with shell operations may indicate a less than reputable company, these actions have been primarily to avoid legal problems, including the Child Protection and Obscenity Enforcement ActChild Protection and Obscenity Enforcement Act
The Child Protection and Obscenity Enforcement Act of 1988, title VII, subtitle N of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, , , is part of a United States Act of Congress which places stringent record-keeping requirements on the producers of actual, sexually explicit materials...
. Voyeurweb's internal rules forbid underage and/or underage appearing models. The owners lived in Amsterdam, Netherlands; and Tampa, Florida, but residences and offices are moved frequently to avoid legal problems. The actual location of the so-called Voyeurweb mothership, which includes software development, global network administration, central processing of content and central media administration is in Kiev, Ukraine since 2004.
The domain name
Domain name
A domain name is an identification string that defines a realm of administrative autonomy, authority, or control in the Internet. Domain names are formed by the rules and procedures of the Domain Name System ....
was registered by a company in July 1997. The site is run from leased cage space with Bell Canada in Canada, France Telecom in Europe and iiNet in Australia using intelligent Geo-IP distribution.
VoyeurWeb is the softcore version of the Voyeurweb sites. RedClouds is its hardcore membership site. Homeclips is its video membership site, and Funbags its archive site.
Voyeurweb once had Watchcams, which was the "original" cam house, and was the forerunner to Voyeurdorm by a matter of weeks.
Voyeurweb, Watchcams and similar sites led to other ventures, such as Girls Gone Wild
Girls Gone Wild
The Girls Gone Wild franchise, created by Joe Francis, is a video series by the production company Mantra Films, Inc., which is headquartered in Santa Monica, California.-Content:...
(an unrelated company).
Criticism and praise
Voyeurweb has been pioneering user-generated content since the time when the term Web 2.0 was unknown. Initially submissions of all photos of nude women were encouraged, and there were very few limits on the kinds of photos that could be submitted. These included many photos of nude women taken without their consent—for example, through windows, in dressing rooms, in public and private showers, or while sleeping. These voyeur related photo sections sustained heavy criticism until photos displaying invasion of privacyInvasion of privacy
United States privacy law embodies several different legal concepts. One is the invasion of privacy, a tort based in common law allowing an aggrieved party to bring a lawsuit against an individual who unlawfully intrudes into his or her private affairs, discloses his or her private information,...
were allegedly no longer shown. This departure from no-holds-barred voyeuristic photography changed the site's concept significantly, as it was one of the first to offer its visitors both photos and videos of a true "voyeuristic" nature, including material containing non-consenting subjects. However, photos such as those of topless sunbathers on beaches are still displayed without consent from the women being photographed, in circumstances where Voyeurweb feels that the women did not have a "reasonable expectation of privacy".
While Porn 2.0
Porn 2.0
Porn 2.0, named after the Web 2.0 is a concept of internet-based websites featuring user-generated content. These ideas are sometimes described as intermediate social networking mediums using dynamics contents such as user-based categorizing, webcam hosting in ?tube as opposed to static contents in...
websites like Voyeurweb, PornoTube and YouPorn have garnered tremendous popularity and interest since their inception, they are not without their critics. Some concern has been raised about the copyright, privacy and legal ramifications of large quantities of free, user-generated
User-generated content
User generated content covers a range of media content available in a range of modern communications technologies. It entered mainstream usage during 2005 having arisen in web publishing and new media content production circles...
, pornographic content on the internet.
Concerns have also surfaced over the inability to verify the age of the persons depicted in the photos and the fact that the subjects are often photographed without their consent, especially where the candid nature of the shot is its main appeal. As with any Web 2.0-type system, there is also the possibility of copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
ed photos being uploaded to the site but viewers are asked to be alert to this and report infringements via a "Report Contri" button found on every page with photos, allowing users to "Report a stolen or suspicious contri" (contribution).