AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands—David Cooke says Saturday’s seminar on the looming age-verification law in the U.K. is a must-see discussion for Webmaster Access attendees.
“It’s coming, I promise you,” Cooke told AVN Thursday at the Doubletree by Hilton Centraal Station, where the 14th edition of the longest running webmaster conference in adult was beginning to take shape.
Tech executives pouring in from all over the world took advantage of Thursday’s early registration hours, picking up their badges for what will be a four-day weekend of networking events, parties and educational opportunities.
As the Director of Digital and New Media at Mindgeek’s London office, Cooke heads AgeID, which is helping adult sites comply with Great Britain’s soon-to-be-implemented Digital Economy Act.
AgeID, which facilitates a secure age verification system with a focus on data protection and user privacy, is the presenting sponsor of Webmaster Access, which continues through Sunday in the heart of the historic city.
Cooke will join an elite group of industry decision-makers at 12 noon Saturday in the Leeds 1 meeting room to analyze the current state of the issue that will affect the adult internet worldwide. The panel is part of a full complement of expert sessions designed to give attendees insights into the current and future climate in the fast-evolving digital space.
Adult industry attorney Michael Fattorosi will moderate a panel about the impact of the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) and the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) in the US at 3 p.m. Saturday.
“I know the issue inside and out,” said Fattorosi, who has delivered similar panels on the topic in the U.S.
He noted that perhaps the fastest growing sector of the business is the “independent cam girl producer/performer” that is finding her way in the business without being attached to one studio or platform.
“Those are the people reaching out,” Fattorosi added. “They want to talk to an attorney. They want to be legal with what they’re doing. It’s the new entry point.”
Speaking of entry points, Webmaster Access first-timer Renaat Rabaey is looking for one at this year’s show. The 22-year-old from Bree, Belgium, graduated from college with a degree in Communications Media last year and has some HTML skills he’d like to put to use in adult. He also is curious about performing, introducing himself to a pair of porn masters—James Deen and Porno Dan Leal—at Thursday night's Welcome Party.
Deen, owner of JamesDeenCash and two-time AVN Performer of the Year, told Rabaey he should talk to Leal, the CEO of Immoral Productions and now an ex-patriot who has been living and working in Budapest for the past two years.
“I searched for a job in Communications and I couldn’t find one,” Rabaey told AVN. “In Belgium the communications industry is very small, so I came here to connect with some people.”
Rabaey makes his current living in a plant factory, but he would like to find a job in adult.
“I always wanted to do something in this,” Rabaey said. “That’s why I felt this was an opportunity to come see who’s here.”
Another industry vet who made the trip to the Netherlands’ capital was Sascha Koch, the seasoned performer/producer who wants the world to know “alt” porn is alive and well—his growing portal, AltErotic.com, is proof.
Sascha created the site because of his passion for tattoos, piercings and beautiful girls. His interest in ink is not new; in 2005, he launched MyTattooGirls.com. Sascha, whose own body is covered in tattoos, told AVN he’s beginning to ramp up his affiliate program, AltDollars, which is now managed by former Kink affiliate guru, Jesse Garza.
“We’ve got Jesse on board and we hired a designer part time right now and we have Ivan, who was [2016 AVN Best Web Director],” Sascha said. “We have a small team, but a really select team and we’re expanding.”
As the cool evening progressed, WMA attendees sauntered one block east to the cozy Stadscafe Oosterdook, where they were treated to an open bar and tasty finger foods at the official WMA Welcome Party.
Among Friday’s festivities are the first Speed Networking session of the weekend and the anticipated Meet Market, where more than 50 companies will meet and greet show-goers.
Cathalyne and Talitha
For additional photos from the show, visit WMA on Facebook.
