Andorra is preparing to tighten legislation that will directly affect the online adult services market. After the March 2024 broadcast of Equipo de Investigación on La Sexta, which focused on the activities of Spaniard Sergio Fuentes, known as the ‘OnlyFans King,’ the country’s authorities initiated a criminal code reform. The new bill equates the work of models on platforms with erotic content to the traditional concept of prostitution and provides for up to five years of imprisonment for intermediaries.
Sergio Fuentes, who managed accounts of more than thirty women and received up to half of their income, has already left Andorra and changed his tax residency to Dubai. According to EL PAÍS, he explained his departure by his unwillingness to face criminal prosecution and emphasized that his activities were limited to marketing and promotion, not organizing prostitution. However, Andorran authorities see it differently: following the high-profile investigation, public pressure on lawmakers increased, and now work with OnlyFans may be recognized as a form of digital pimping.
Prostitution is already banned in the country, and the new law expands this definition to online services. If the reform is adopted, penalties will threaten not only those who organize or promote such services, but also those who order or pay for personalized sexual content — fines will range from 501 to 1,500 euros. However, the models themselves and those providing the services will not be subject to penalties, unless they engage in mediation.
The scandal surrounding Fuentes’ activities became the last straw for the Andorran authorities, who have been dealing for several years with the consequences of an influx of bloggers and streamers from Spain. The mass relocation has led to rising housing prices, gentrification, and social tension. The country’s officials are seeking to regain control over the real estate market and restrict activities they believe undermine traditional values. In similar cases, courts in Spain also focus on financial schemes and offshore structures, as was the case in the investigation into the death of the Mango founder, where the Barcelona court analyzed key evidence against Jonathan Andic— details of the investigation are available here.
According to local media, the new version of the criminal code could be approved as early as July. It is important to note that the ban will not affect pornography itself: the production and viewing of erotic content will remain legal; only mediation and payment for individual digital sexual services will be prohibited. Andorra, where one of the heads of state is a Catholic bishop, demonstrates a tough stance on issues of morality and the digital economy. The Fuentes case has shown how quickly the legal landscape for online business in Europe can change.
For reference: OnlyFans is a platform specializing in the sale of exclusive content, primarily erotic. In recent years, it has become one of the main sources of income for thousands of models worldwide. In Andorra, as in other European countries, the discussion around regulating such services is linked to issues of taxation, protection of performers’ rights, and preventing exploitation. The new government initiative may set a precedent for other jurisdictions where digital adult services still remain in a gray area.