Online pornography, mainly distributed by US internet companies like Google, has led to widespread moral corruption and sexual exploitation in Britain and other Western countries, a political analyst from London says.
William Spring said in an interview with the Press TV on Sunday that reports showing that women are offered homes in Britain in return for sex highlights the dominance of porn in those societies.
“The main problem is the lack of morals in the West. The Western countries are dominated by pornography disseminated by the Google corporation, which has resulted in a belief that women can just be treated as chattels and objects for a man to exploit sexually,” said Spring.
The expert said offering rooms to women in Britain in return for sex was “just another example” of the fundamental problem of not respecting women in the Western societies.
He said that coupled with a soaring problem of housing in Britain, the pornographic view towards women has caused many to believe that vulnerable women can be exploited when they search for housing.
“The terrible stories of women being told you can have this room as long as you suit the landlord, it is absolutely disgraceful,” said Spring, adding that housing supply has not gone along with housing demand in the UK, resulting in a situation in which many women who are at risk can be exploited by the landlords.
The analyst said a main problem with UK’s housing crisis is that the country’s welfare policy, which has allowed many migrants from the European Union countries to claim benefits related to residency, have caused overcrowding in large cities like London.
“The population necessarily expands and off course also the fact the welfare state so-called, the National Health Service, many facilities which in other countries in Europe are paid for or selective are universal once you get residency here,” he said.
“The result is in particular in London there is a situation of overcrowding to an extreme degree.”
Landlords in the UK are offering young women rent-free housing in return for sex, a trend that has been growing amid record-high homelessness in Britain.
Renting rooms for sexual favors is seen as a growing risk by homeless charities and campaigners, and a consequence of a housing crisis where young people are unable to find somewhere affordable to live.
The Ministry of Justice says offering accommodation in exchange for sex is illegal and even placing an advert is breaking the law and could result in a seven year jail term.
The problem has become particularly marked in university towns, where young women are targeted by rogue landlords.
Two landlords in Bristol were filmed by hidden cameras in September offering free rent in return for sex, in a sting aimed at exposing the dangers faced by female tenants.