Pornhub Agrees To $5 Million Settlement Amid Allegations Of Inadequate Safeguards on OnlyLikeFans

Settlement Reached with FTC and Utah

Pornhub, under its parent company Aylo, has reached a $5 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission and the state of Utah. The news, announced on Wednesday, follows a lawsuit that accused Pornhub of not doing enough to prevent the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and non-consensual material (NCM) on its platforms. These allegations pointed to a significant gap between the platform's stated policies and actual practices.

The FTC and Utah’s attorney general have claimed that Pornhub's operators misled users by allowing tens of thousands of problematic videos to remain available, despite assurances that such content was strictly prohibited. As part of the settlement, Aylo has agreed to enhance its safety measures and will pay a significant penalty to Utah for past oversights.

Aylo's Commitment to Safety

In response to the settlement, Aylo has committed to building a robust system to prevent the spread of CSAM and NCM across its websites. This includes verifying that all individuals in videos are adults who have consented to the content's creation and publication. Additionally, Aylo must implement a comprehensive privacy and security program to address the concerns raised by the FTC and Utah.

“This settlement reaffirms and enhances Aylo’s efforts to prevent the publication of child sexual abuse material and non-consensual material on its platforms,” a spokesperson for Aylo stated. “We are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance.”

Aylo has already begun implementing many of these protective measures. Since 2020, Pornhub has been overhauling its content moderation processes, including registering with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and requiring proof of consent from all individuals featured in content.

Lingering Concerns and Past Allegations

The complaint against Aylo focuses on content that appeared prior to 2020, highlighting titles on various Pornhub-affiliated sites that suggested CSAM and NCM. The allegations reveal that rather than removing these videos, the company merely edited their titles to obscure the true nature of the content. This has sparked serious concerns about the company's historical commitment to user safety.

Among other allegations, the complaint mentioned Pornhub's association with the Girls Do Porn sex-trafficking ring, which was a Pornhub Premium partner until federal trafficking charges were brought against the ring in 2019. Aylo’s settlement with the US Attorney General in 2023 further emphasized its need to address past missteps and reform its compliance strategies.

While Aylo and Pornhub are working towards more comprehensive safety protocols, the FTC and Utah's actions underscore the critical need for ongoing vigilance and transparency across platforms hosting user-generated content.