There's bad news for those who want a little extra stimulation with their coffee. Whether you're into flat whites or hot chocolate, you only have until 2019 to watch porn at Starbucks.
So far the global giant has taken a hands-off approach to in-store porn. But after years of complaints over people watching hardcore pornography, it has announced it will introduce a "global protocol" to prevent customers watching explicit material on its public Wi-Fi.
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"We have identified a solution to prevent this content from being viewed within our stores and we will begin introducing it to our US locations in 2019," a Starbucks spokesperson told NBC News. It is believed the same policy will apply to New Zealand stores.
While porn is currently banned under Starbucks' terms of service, there isn't anything actually in place to stop people from doing so.
It's been under pressure to put up a filter for years, with US internet safety organisation Enough Is Enough saying its network has been "attracting paedophiles and sex offenders" and putting children at risk.
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"Apparently, Starbucks cares more about providing paper straws to protect the environment than protecting kids and patrons on its public Wi-Fi," Enough is Enough wrote in a petition.
"Starbucks is keeping the doors wide open for convicted sex offenders and patrons to fly under the radar from law enforcement and use free, public WiFi services to view or distribute graphics or obscene pornography, child pornography (an illegal crime), or engage in sexual predation activity."
But the plan to go porn-free has already met with pushback. Porn giant YouPorn has responded by banning Starbucks coffee in its offices.
"In light of the news that Starbucks has blocked customers from searching and viewing adult content within their establishments, Starbucks products will officially be banned from the YouPorn offices, effective January 1st, 2019," its VP says.
Newshub.
