Five anonymous plaintiffs have filed a class action lawsuit against OnlyFans’ parent company, alleging “systemic deception” on the platform. The plaintiffs claim that paying users are unknowingly interacting with paid chatters who impersonate creators, violating their privacy.

This isn’t the first legal challenge for OnlyFans. A previous class action lawsuit, filed in California by five anonymous plaintiffs, was dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction. However, the new suit, filed in Florida, focuses on the alleged use of impersonators by OnlyFans creators.

The lawsuit details a range of alleged violations, including:

• Breach of contract
• Fraud
• Violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)
• Violations of the Federal Video Privacy Protection Act
• Violations of the California Invasion of Privacy Act
• Violations of California’s false advertising laws
• Violations of California’s unfair competition laws

The core of the controversy lies in the question of authenticity: When a user interacts with a creator on OnlyFans, can they be sure they are truly communicating with the person they believe they are?

The lawsuit centers around the alleged practice of creators employing “chatters,” paid individuals who impersonate creators to manage their large number of subscribers and messages. The plaintiffs argue that this deception violates users’ privacy and constitutes unfair business practices.

While OnlyFan’s terms of service don’t explicitly prohibit the use of chat services, they do caution against misleading or deceptive conduct. However, the lawsuit contends that the use of impersonators constitutes a violation of these terms.

The lawsuit also highlights the potential for confusion and emotional harm as users form connections with creators they believe to be genuine, only to later discover they’ve been interacting with impersonators.

The lawsuit is likely to spark further debate surrounding the ethical considerations of using impersonators on OnlyFans and the platform’s responsibility to ensure user authenticity. It also underscores the growing scrutiny surrounding the adult entertainment industry and its business practices.

The outcome of this lawsuit will be closely watched by both creators and fans on OnlyFans, as it could have significant implications for the platform’s future and its approach to user privacy and transparency.

Meanwhile, OnlyFans has experienced significant financial success, with revenue reaching $1.3 billion in the year ending November 2023, representing a 20% increase from the previous year.

This growth in revenue has led to a substantial dividend payout for OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky, who received $472 million last year, increasing his total payouts from the company to nearly $1.3 billion since 2020.

The platform also experienced a notable increase in both creator and fan accounts, further solidifying its position as a leading digital entertainment platform.

Despite its financial success, OnlyFans continues to face challenges related to content moderation, user privacy, and the ethical implications of its business practices. The outcome of the new class action lawsuit and ongoing discussions about the platform’s responsibility to its users will likely shape the future of OnlyFans and the adult entertainment industry as a whole.