system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why does being paid for sex suddenly become acceptable when there is a camera involved?
gpt
Making porn films used to be illegal in most of the United States. Along came an over zealous sheriff in the late 70's who had the opposite approach of the OP. He felt that since people were being paid to participate in sex acts, it was prostitution and the actors could be arrested for that crime. 

The California Supreme Court ruled that prostitution involved having sex for the *sexual gratification of one or both of the participants.* Porn films are not made for that purpose. Porn films are made for the sexual gratification of the consumer. 

What this ruling did was put porn on a questionable, but legal footing since the actors are not being paid so the actors or even the director can get off, but so the viewer can shoot his load. 

So if you tape your sessions with a prostitute, and one of you enjoyed the sex act, you are going to pay a fine. Throw in a director, uncomfortable lighting, a camera jabbing you in the ass at every thrust, and a fluffer to help you maintain your erection, and you may get an acquittal.