Anti-porn group declares victory in Groupon boycott

The anti-pornography group Morality in Media announced Wednesday that the online coupon company Groupon had stop doing business with the adult entertainment industry, thanks to the group's boycott.

“Mainstream companies should stay far away from the sexual exploitation and abuse that is part and parcel of the mission of pornography companies,” said Patrick A. Trueman, MIM’s president.  “Groupon offered deals not only for Kink but for an event at Playboy, the world's top sexual exploiter.

During the two-month boycott, more than 20,000 people canceled their Groupon memberships, according to the group.

However, Groupon has denied changing its policy in response to the boycott.

"We continue to test different types of deals in markets around the country, and run categories that represent the interests of each local customer base," Groupon spokeswoman Julie Mossler said in an email Wednesday to CNBC. "While we aren't currently accepting new adult merchants, guidelines for what types of businesses we do and do not run are constantly re-evaluated on a local level."

But that's not true, according to Morality in Media, who claim to have learned of the policy change through a confidential business customer of Groupon.

The group launched the boycott after Groupon offered coupons to tour Kink.com's San Francisco Armory Building. Kink is one of the largest producers of BDSM-themed pornography and operates inside the historic San Francisco National Guard Armory

"Prior to our (admittedly unusual!) use, the Armory was vacant and was boarded up for 30+ years while many rehabilitation efforts failed," Kink.com Founder and CEO Peter Acworth told the Huffington Post. "We've been amazed by how many people have been fascinated by its history. We are grateful to Groupon for helping us open the doors of the Armory to the public. Doing so not only satisfies folks’ curiosity about the building, but also helps fulfill our mission of demystifying and celebrating alternative sexuality."

[XXX image via Shutterstock]