CSAM Distribution Allegations: Creator Platform Sued

Lawsuit Filed Against Passes for Alleged CSAM Distribution

Passes, a creator-focused monetization platform with $40 million in Series A funding, is facing legal action concerning the alleged distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Despite company policies prohibiting nude imagery, unlike platforms such as OnlyFans, a lawsuit has been filed claiming the company engaged in the production, possession, and sale of sexually explicit content featuring the plaintiff when she was underage.

Details of the Lawsuit

The legal complaint was initially reported by The Information and brought forth by creator Alice Rosenblum. Beyond the company itself, the lawsuit names Alec Celestin and Lani Ginoza – identified as “agents” of Passes – alongside the platform’s founder and CEO, Lucy Guo.

Rosenblum asserts that each individual named in the suit was cognizant of both her minor status and the alleged presence of explicit content depicting her.

Passes' Response

Passes maintains that Guo had no involvement in the matter, and communicated to TechCrunch that there is “no record or recollection” of any interaction between Guo and Rosenblum.

The case raises significant concerns regarding the potential misuse of fan platforms for the dissemination of unlawful material, irrespective of the lawsuit’s final resolution.

A Passes spokesperson stated to TechCrunch, “The assertion that Passes knowingly sought content creators to post inappropriate material is demonstrably false.” The spokesperson firmly denied this claim, attributing any potential misconduct to the plaintiff’s talent manager, Alec Celestin.

Requests for comment directed to Celestin by TechCrunch went unanswered.

Allegations Against Celestin

Rosenblum alleges that Celestin, previously employed as director of Brand & Community at Fanfix, a comparable creator platform, engaged in grooming behavior and instructed her to create explicit photos and videos while she was seventeen years old. She claims that, prior to her eighteenth birthday this past September, Celestin proposed a marketing campaign centered around the explicit images she alleges she produced as a minor.

Furthermore, Rosenblum contends that Guo personally intervened to bypass safety protocols within Passes, which she asserts would have identified her content as CSAM. A representative for Passes has refuted this allegation.

Conflicting Accounts of Celestin’s Role

While Rosenblum’s lawsuit characterizes Celestin as an “agent” associated with Passes, the company describes him as “a former social media contractor who has actively sought to exaggerate his connection to our company.”

Photographic evidence exists of Celestin appearing alongside Guo in Instagram posts, including images commemorating milestones in Passes’ development.

Celestin was also implicated in a January 2024 lawsuit filed by Fanfix, his former employer, which accused him of disclosing confidential company information to Passes. Guo denied these accusations at the time.

Passes’ Stance on Explicit Content

“Passes is a no-nudity platform,” the company affirmed to TechCrunch. “The suggestion that Passes would knowingly facilitate the distribution of sexually explicit images – particularly in the days leading up to a creator’s 18^th birthday – is both libelous and illogical.”

The platform positions itself as distinct from OnlyFans, collaborating with prominent figures like NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, NCAA gymnast Olivia Dunne, and music producer Kygo.

Content Moderation Practices

In a December blog post, Passes detailed its strict prohibition of explicit content and its utilization of automated content moderation tools as an initial line of defense against inappropriate posts. Given Guo’s background – she co-founded the unicorn Scale AI – artificial intelligence is a core competency for the company. Passes also stated it maintains a dedicated trust and safety team to review flagged content and ensure adherence to its guidelines.

“The plaintiff and her manager, Alec Celestin, ultimately transitioned to OnlyFans because [Rosenblum’s] content was consistently flagged on our platform,” Passes explained to TechCrunch.

Passes employs Microsoft PhotoDNA, an industry-standard tool, to automatically scan all images for CSAM. Any identified material is reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), following standard protocol for online platforms. The company’s December post indicated that Microsoft PhotoDNA had not detected any instances of CSAM on the platform.

Legal Representation Statement

“Ms. Rosenblum is committed to securing justice for herself and other victims like her from all parties involved,” stated Rodney Villazor, legal counsel for Rosenblum. “Each defendant will be held accountable for their actions through the legal process, rather than through social media platforms.”