Did Pornhub open a SIPR (Secret Internet Protocol Router Network) so that U.S. military personnel can access pornography in war zones? No, that's not true: The claim was made in a satirical article published by a humor website targeted at military personnel and veterans, but other purported news websites copied the post as real.
The story originated from an article published on May 1, 2019 titled "Pornhub opens first SIPR website" (archived here) which opened:
U.S. troops stationed abroad now have 24-hour access to the latest hardcore pornography from back home, thanks to a deal that allows adult website Pornhub to host explicit material on the military's secret classified networks, sources confirmed today. MindGeek, the Canadian company which owns Pornhub, signed the deal nicknamed "OPSUCK" with the Department of Defense.
Users on social media only saw this title, description and thumbnail:
Pornhub opens first SIPR website
"At some point, you just have to accept that changing their culture just won't work"
Pornhub is a Canadian-based company that markets sexually-explicit websites. SIPR is the acronym for "a system of interconnected computer networks used by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State to transmit classified information (up to and including information classified SECRET) by packet switching over the 'completely secure' environment."
The satirical story said the establishment of the SIPR website was intended to improve troop morale.
Sources say the Pentagon's decision follows years of pent-up frustration by U.S. troops stuck on bases in the Middle East sharing pornography at least a decade old and stained with the fluids of countless heroes. The unconventional decision just reflects the realities of modern warfare, according to Gen. Scott Miller, who commands all U.S. forces in Afghanistan and has been working closely with Pornhub. "Back home, our men and women in uniform are just used to a constant hot and horny f**kfest of freedom," Miller told reporters. "We've had to remove countless terabytes of pornography from our classified networks throughout the war, and at some point, you just have to accept that changing their culture just won't work."
The website Duffelblog.com is a military-themed satire website which sports following legal disclaimer on its 'about' page:
Legal
We are in no way, shape, or form, a real news outlet. Everything on this website is satirical and the content of this site is a parody of a news organization. No composition should be regarded as truthful, and no reference of an individual, company, or military unit seeks to inflict malice or emotional harm.
All characters, groups, and military units appearing in these works are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or actual military units and companies is purely coincidental.
They are sometimes refered to as the military version of The Onion but that same 'about' page points out:
Duffel Blog is sometimes referred to as "The military version of The Onion," but this is a misnomer. The gaffe was cleared up in May 2012 when Duffel Blog staff successfully conducted an airborne assault on the offices of The Onion News Network so that others would know "The Onion was actually the civilian version of Duffel Blog."
So don't fall for any of their stories...
We wrote about duffelblog.com before, here are our most recent articles that mention the site:
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- Fake News: Nike Did NOT Apologize For Forgetting Military Monopoly on Sacrifice
- Fake News: Navy Did NOT Approve Man-buns For Sailors
- Fake News: Trump Tower Did NOT Open in Pyongyang
