German Regulator Who Shut Down xHamster Unveils New AI Surveillance Tool

German Regulator Who Shut Down xHamster Unveils New AI Surveillance Tool

DÜSSELDORF, Germany — The local official crusading for Germany to hide all sexual content behind an age verification wall unveiled this week an AI tool called KIVI, which automatically scans all online content to determine which images are not compliant with the law.

Tobias Schmid, director of the State Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia, and one-man War on Porn, held a press conference yesterday boasting of the surveillance. He explained that he coined the name KIVI after “KI” — the German initials for AI — and “VI” from the Latin word “vigilare,” meaning “to survey.”

While some might view such surveillance as an authoritarian fantasy, Schmid called it a "fantastic combination,” German tech news site NetzPolitik.org reported yesterday.

NetzPolitik reporter Sebastian Meineck, who has been covering Schmid’s meticulous, obsessive attempts to ban all sexual content from open platforms in Germany and Europe, wrote that “pornography” is one of the clearest targets of the local bureaucrat’s new surveillance engine.

Schmid included the category among others like “extremism, hate speech, swastikas or the glorification of drugs” that his “most modern” KIVI, which he has already expanded nationwide, has been trained to detect.

KIVI was developed by Berlin-based Condat under Schmid’s supervision and is now reportedly being used by all 14 state media authorities in Germany.

KIVI is currently surveying images, texts and videos on all websites, as well as apps like “Telegram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, the Russian Facebook competitor VKontakte and the video portal Bitchute,” NetzPolitik reported.

“KIVI recognized 20,000 potential violations within a year,” the report continued. “The violations are then checked by humans [employed and selected by Schmid] using a ticket system. According to the NRW Media Authority, there are around eight student assistants and seven lawyers. After sorting out erroneous hits, 6,700 violations remained. Some KIVI hits lead to reports on the platforms, and others also to criminal charges.”

Schmid has described the cooperation between his agency and the State Criminal Police Office of North Rhine-Westphalia as "very good."

In general, NetzPolitik's Meineck points out, “artificial intelligence often adopts biases, prejudices and biases in their training data,” yet Schmid claimed with characteristic determination that the AI tool is "neutral” and "so wonderfully uncorrupt.”

To protect reviewers from potentially traumatic content, KIVI presents blurry images in a small preview window at first, which employees can sharpen using a slider to determine whether they contain violence or pornography. 

“I am pretty sure that we will gradually get the mass of cases under control,” Schmid concluded.

Main Image: Tobias Schmid, director of the State Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

North Carolina Passes Extreme Bill Targeting Adult Sites

The North Carolina state legislature this week ratified a bill that would impose new regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

Supreme Court Ruling Due Friday in FSC v. Paxton AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on Friday in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the adult industry trade association's challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Ofcom: More Porn Providers Commit to Age Assurance Measures

A number of adult content providers operating in the U.K. have confirmed that they plan to introduce age checks in compliance with the Online Safety Act by the July 25 deadline, according to U.K. media regulator Ofcom.

Aylo Says It Will Comply With UK Age Assurance Requirements

Tech and media company Aylo, which owns various adult properties including Pornhub, YouPorn and Redtube, plans to introduce age assurance methods in the United Kingdom that satisfy government rules under the Online Safety Act, the company has announced.

Kyrgyzstan Parliament Approves Measure Outlawing Internet Porn

The Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday passed legislation outlawing online adult content in the country.

Trial Set for Lawsuit by U Wisconsin Professor Fired Over Adult Content

A trial date of June 22, 2026, has been set for the civil lawsuit filed by veteran communications professor Joe Gow against the University of Wisconsin board of regents, which fired him for creating and appearing in adult content.

New UK Task Force Meets to Target Adult Content

The architect of an influential report that recommended banning adult content deemed “degrading, violent and misogynistic” has convened an “Independent Pornography Review task force” aimed at translating that report’s findings into action in the U.K.

11:11 Creations Launches Affiliate Program

11:11 Creations principal Alicia Silver has launched 11:11 Cash for creators and affiliates.

Pineapple Support, Pornhub to Host 'Self Love' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Pornhub are hosting a free online support group for performers to develop self-love.

Show More