SWCEO Interviews Corey Silverstein
Blog Post Written By: MelRose Michaels
As new laws target adult creators and the political landscape shifts, how can creators protect their businesses and navigate emerging legal challenges?
In a recent Twitter Space, MelRose Michaels sits down with Corey Silverstein, the adult industry’s leading IT attorney, to break down the biggest legal threats and share strategies for safeguarding your business in these uncertain times.
MelRose Michaels: Welcome back to On the Whorizon. We’re heading into a new year, and with the recent election, many creators are wondering if new legal concerns are on the horizon. I’m thrilled to have Corey Silverstein, the adult industry’s premier IT attorney and founder of Silverstein Legal, back with us. Corey, thanks for joining us!
Corey Silverstein:
The pleasure is all mine. Any chance I get to be part of your Sex Work CEO community, I’ll take it. You’re building something huge here.
MelRose Michaels:
Last time, we spoke about Project 2025 before the election. Now that the results are in, what do you see as the biggest concern for the adult industry?
Corey Silverstein:
The biggest threat remains age verification laws. Despite being labeled as "age verification," these laws are really about restricting access to adult content under the guise of protecting children. This is part of a right-wing agenda to suppress speech. The laws being passed in various states and international pressure make this the most significant challenge we’ve faced in years.
MelRose Michaels:
I’m listed as a plaintiff in a case against age verification laws in Tennessee, where criminalization goes into effect soon. Should I or other creators in similar situations be worried?
Corey Silverstein:
First, kudos to you for putting your name on this lawsuit. That takes guts. Regarding Tennessee, I believe the law is blatantly unconstitutional. Like in Texas, it’ll take years for these legal battles to play out. I doubt any state will successfully prosecute anyone under these laws before their constitutionality is decided.
MelRose Michaels:
Thank you, that’s reassuring. I feel a responsibility to fight because many creators don’t have the privilege or resources to do so. How can creators who aren’t on the frontlines still make a difference?
Corey Silverstein:
Start by staying informed and sharing that knowledge with your fans, friends, and other creators. Advocacy can take many forms, like educating your audience about policy changes that impact you and them. The more people understand these issues, the stronger our collective pushback becomes.
MelRose Michaels:
What are your thoughts on Trump’s election? Should the industry be bracing for direct attacks from his administration?
Corey Silverstein:
Honestly, I don’t think Trump has the adult industry on his radar. During his last term, he didn’t take significant actions against the industry, aside from signing FOSTA-SESTA, which had been in development for years. Right now, his focus seems to be on other agendas. That said, we should remain vigilant, especially regarding banking and financial regulations.
MelRose Michaels:
You mentioned banking regulations as a concern. How might those evolve under this administration?
Corey Silverstein:
Trump’s team has hinted at disbanding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and reducing banking oversight. This could potentially benefit the industry by loosening some of the stringent Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements. However, it’s still speculative, and we’ll have to watch how it unfolds.
MelRose Michaels:
Banking challenges are a major issue for creators. Do you think platforms or creators can do anything to mitigate these obstacles?
Corey Silverstein:
For creators, diversification is key. Don’t rely on just one platform or bank. Have backup accounts and systems ready. For platforms, now is the time to consult legal experts to ensure compliance with evolving laws. It’s critical to have the right professionals who understand the adult industry’s unique legal landscape.
MelRose Michaels:
Speaking of Visa and MasterCard, their influence looms large over the industry. Even with lenient banks, isn’t the industry still at their mercy?
Corey Silverstein:
Absolutely. Visa and MasterCard have immense power, and their policies heavily influence how platforms operate. If they decided to stop processing for the adult industry, the fallout would be catastrophic. This has been the case since the days of VHS and mail orders—it’s nothing new but remains a critical challenge.
MelRose Michaels:
What steps can creators take to safeguard their businesses?
Corey Silverstein:
Diversify your presence across multiple platforms. Back up your social media data and maintain a list of your followers with alternate contact information. Building an email list is another layer of security, but creators need to be cautious of GDPR and other regulations when using email for marketing.
MelRose Michaels:
What advice do you have for platforms preparing for the challenges of this administration?
Corey Silverstein:
Platforms need to focus on creating redundancies and strengthening legal compliance. This includes staying on top of data privacy regulations like GDPR, updating policies for Visa and MasterCard, and ensuring their legal teams specialize in the adult industry. The complexity of this space requires expertise.
MelRose Michaels:
Corey, this has been incredibly insightful. Where can listeners find and connect with you?
Corey Silverstein:
You can follow me on Twitter or visit my website, MyAdultAttorney.com. I’m always happy to connect and answer questions.
MelRose Michaels:
Thank you, Corey, for sharing your expertise and encouragement. To everyone listening, don’t forget to check out new content on our YouTube channel, join our CEO Society for community support, and explore tools like GPTease AI to help streamline your creator business.
Some parts of the above interview have been condensed or edited for clarity. For the full interview, listen to the entire Twitter space.
Find Corey Silverstein on Twitter.
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the interview are those of the guest speaker and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SexWorkCEO or MelRose Michaels. Anything said or written is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone else.
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