SALT LAKE CITY—The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Utah Division of Consumer Protection filed a proposed legal settlement in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah on Wednesday between the regulators and the parent company of Pornhub.com, Aylo.
Consumer protection regulators in Utah and the FTC said in the proposed settlement that they are taking action because Aylo deceived its users by "doing little to block tens of thousands of videos and photos featuring child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and nonconsensual material (NCM), despite claiming that this content was 'strictly prohibited.'" It is worth noting that most of the allegations made in the filing by the plaintiff regulators are related to occurrences before major reforms on the platforms and at Aylo.
In response, a proposed order of settlement to conclude the litigation would require Aylo to pay up to $5 million to the state of Utah for failing to collectively prevent the distribution of CSAM and NCM on its platforms within the digital jurisdiction of the state. Otherwise, Aylo would be charged $15 million in fines and penalties.
If the $5 million is paid in full, states the proposed settlement agreement, then the lawsuit brought by the FTC and the state of Utah would be resolved.
“Pornhub’s operators turned a blind eye to the proliferation of videos depicting the sexual abuse of children on its sites so it could profit off this exploitation,” explained the director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, Christopher Mufarrige, in a press statement.
“Under the order we’re announcing today, Pornhub’s operators will be required to take concrete steps to block this harmful content and ensure that those who appear in videos on their sites are consenting adults," Mufarrige added.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican lawmaker known for his anti-porn alignments, shared that he is "grateful to the FTC and our Division of Consumer Protection for their work to safeguard Utah’s children and families."
A spokesperson for Aylo told AVN in a statement that the company agreed to settle with Utah and the FTC in line with its "longstanding commitment" to safety and compliance.
"Under the terms of the settlement, Aylo will pay $5 million in civil penalties, with an additional $10 million in civil penalties suspended contingent on compliance with the order," the spokesperson said. "Aylo has agreed to biennial third-party compliance assessments for a period of 10 years, demonstrating its commitment to its trust, safety, and compliance measures."
The spokesperson added, "Aylo maintains a zero-tolerance policy for illegal content, and this agreement underscores our dedication to upholding high standards of trust and safety in the industry."
This settlement between the FTC, Utah and Aylo builds on the deferred prosecution agreement the company reached with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, mandating third-party observers and the payment of restitution for those harmed by Pornhub's monetization of non-consensual material during the investigation and eventual arrests of the GirlsDoPorn sex trafficking scheme.
"Aylo understands the pivotal role the adult industry has in ensuring the internet remains a secure space," the spokesperson concluded. "Trust and safety should be a priority for every online platform, and there is a collective responsibility in shaping a safer online experience."
