Not all webcam workers from Colombia are exploited, but a new report reveals quite a few of them are.

A report released by Human Rights Watch has shed light on systemic labor abuses and sexual exploitation faced by webcam models in Colombia, a hub for the global adult webcam industry. The 175-page investigation, titled “I Learned How to Say No: Labor Abuses & Sexual Exploitation in Colombian Webcam Studios,” documents harrowing accounts of inhumane working conditions, coercion, and wage theft in studios across Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, and Palmira.

Colombia’s webcam industry, part of a global sector worth billions, is marred by unsanitary conditions, long hours, and a lack of basic labor protections. Models reported being forced to work 18-hour shifts without breaks, endure unhygienic workspaces, and perform degrading or painful sex acts under coercion.

Webcam modeling is a lucrative business, with platforms retaining 50–65% of viewer payments. Studios in Colombia take an additional 60% of the remaining earnings, leaving models with a fraction of their generated revenue. This setup, combined with exploitative practices, traps many workers in cycles of financial and psychological abuse.

Human Rights Watch spent 18 months conducting the investigation in partnership with Colombian sex worker rights organizations La Liga de Salud Trans and Corporación Calle 7. They interviewed 55 webcam models, uncovering systemic abuses such as wage theft, lack of privacy, and coercion to perform non-consensual acts.

Erin Kilbride, the report’s author, emphasized the responsibility of platforms to address these abuses: “Sex workers deserve the same labor protections as all workers under international human rights law. Platforms must identify, mitigate, and prevent human rights abuses by studios.”

Webcam studios often cram models into small, poorly ventilated cubicles plagued by cockroach and bedbug infestations. Workers described being forced to clean up bodily fluids, garbage, and other unsanitary remnants from previous shifts. One model recounted developing rashes and infections due to dirty equipment, while others cited verbal and physical abuse from studio management.

Maria, a 33-year-old webcam model in Bogotá, described being constantly monitored by surveillance cameras, including in bathrooms and locker rooms. “They know when you are using the bathroom,” she said. “The mental health issues are the worst.”

Many workers reported being coerced into performances they found traumatizing or degrading. One transgender model shared that when she asked to stop a painful performance, her manager demanded she continue, citing the impact on her account’s ratings. Another worker was pressured into a dangerous act involving a glass bottle, fearing injury or retaliation if she refused.

Compounding these issues, most models have never seen or signed the terms of service for the platforms they use. Studios often create accounts on behalf of models, locking them out of crucial decisions about their work and leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. Platforms like BongaCams, Chaturbate, LiveJasmin, and Stripchat have been criticized for their lack of transparency and inadequate protections for workers.

The report also highlights disturbing accounts of minors being employed in studios. Some studios circumvent platform age-verification requirements by using “recycled accounts,” transferring control of existing accounts to underage performers. While all workers interviewed for the report were adults, several said they began working as minors, facilitated by studio practices that exploit loopholes in platform policies.

Human Rights Watch has called on platforms to implement comprehensive labor and safety standards for studios, including:

• Regular inspections of studios for compliance with health and safety standards.
• Transparent policies allowing models to take breaks without financial penalty.
• Secure mechanisms for transferring accounts to prevent studios from controlling workers’ earnings.
• Robust reporting systems for models to report abuses confidentially.

Of the four platforms contacted by Human Rights Watch, only Chaturbate and BongaCams responded, providing details on their efforts to combat human trafficking and child exploitation. However, they denied responsibility for labor abuses within studios. Stripchat emphasized its commitment to model safety but did not address specific concerns, while LiveJasmin declined to comment.

“Platforms must recognize their complicity in these abuses,” Kilbride said. “By failing to establish and enforce labor standards, they are enabling a system that perpetuates exploitation.”

Human Rights Watch and its collaborators stress that sexual exploitation is not inherent to webcam modeling. Instead, systemic changes—rooted in the experiences of sex workers themselves—are needed to protect labor rights and end abuse. They advocate for collaboration among platforms, studios, and governments to create a safer, more equitable industry.

“Webcam modeling is work, and webcam models deserve the same protections as any other workers,” Kilbride concluded. “It’s time for platforms to take responsibility and act decisively to address the exploitation in their supply chains.”

As the world grapples with the ethical implications of the gig economy, the revelations from Colombia underscore the urgent need for stronger regulations and enforcement mechanisms. The report serves as a stark reminder that behind the digital facade of the webcam industry lies a reality of unchecked exploitation, calling for immediate action from all stakeholders.