#956 - Laila Mickelwait - How Pornhub Became The Internet’s Biggest Crime Scene
In this Modern Wisdom episode, guest Laila Mickelwait examines the history of Pornhub and its parent company MindGeek, tracing its growth from a $2,500 domain purchase to becoming the largest adult entertainment site globally. The discussion covers MindGeek's complex ownership structure, including backing from major financial institutions, and details how the platform's minimal content moderation led to the distribution of illegal material.
Mickelwait shares insights about her "Trafficking Hub" campaign, which exposed issues with Pornhub's operations and led to significant consequences for the company. The episode explores how pressure from credit card companies, investors, and media coverage forced Pornhub to remove millions of videos, and discusses new legislation requiring age and consent verification for user-generated adult content sites.
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Pornhub and Mindgeek: History and Business Structure
What began as a $2,500 domain purchase at a Playboy mansion party in 2007 grew into the largest adult entertainment site in the world. Through strategic acquisitions funded by a $362 million loan from Colbeck Capital, MindGeek (previously known as Mancef and Manwin) gained control of the global porn industry. The company's complex ownership structure, involving backing from prominent institutions like JP Morgan Chase and Cornell University, has complicated efforts to hold it accountable.
Inadequate Moderation on Pornhub Causes Illegal Content Distribution
Laila Mickelwait reveals that Pornhub's inadequate moderation practices led to widespread distribution of illegal content. The platform required only an email address to upload content and employed just 10 moderators to review millions of videos. This lax approach, combined with the ability to download videos and use VPNs, enabled the spread of child abuse material, rape footage, and other non-consensual content. Despite knowing about illegal content, Mickelwait notes that Pornhub failed to report child sexual abuse for over a decade, as required by Canadian law.
Laila Mickelwait's Impact On Holding Pornhub Accountable
Through her "Trafficking Hub" campaign, Mickelwait exposed Pornhub's crimes and rallied public support. Her efforts led to significant consequences: credit card companies cut ties with the platform, forcing Pornhub to remove 91% of its content—over 50 million images and videos. Despite facing considerable backlash, including doxing and smear campaigns, Mickelwait continues to advocate for survivors and push for Pornhub's shutdown.
Stakeholder Involvement in Pornhub's Operations
Mickelwait's campaign strategically targeted Pornhub's financial partnerships, particularly with Visa and Mastercard. Following The New York Times' "The Children of Pornhub" article and investor Bill Ackman's involvement, credit card companies severed ties with the platform, significantly impacting its revenue. In response to growing concerns, new laws requiring age and consent verification have been enacted, including the "Take It Down Act" addressing AI-generated non-consensual content. Mickelwait advocates for stringent verification processes across all user-generated pornographic websites to prevent exploitation.
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Actionables
- You can promote digital safety by sharing information on the importance of content moderation on social media. Explain to friends and family how platforms can become safer by implementing more rigorous content checks and the necessity of user verification to prevent the spread of illegal content.
- Encourage informed consumer choices by researching the ethical practices of companies before using their services or products. For instance, before subscribing to a streaming service, look into their content moderation policies and corporate accountability measures to ensure they align with your values.
- Support legislative change by writing to your local representatives about the importance of laws like the "Take It Down Act." Express your concern for the proliferation of non-consensual content online and the need for stricter regulations on user-generated content platforms.
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Pornhub and Mindgeek: History and Business Structure
Pornhub’s trajectory from a small website to the powerhouse of adult entertainment is a tale of strategic growth and opaque business practices.
Pornhub, Bought For $2,500, Grew Into the Largest Porn Site Through Shrewd Tactics and Acquisitions
Pornhub, a dominating entity in adult entertainment, began its journey in 2007 when its original owners secured the domain at a Playboy mansion party for around $2,500. The company that would become MindGeek, then known as Mancef, set the stage for Pornhub's rapid ascent. A German entrepreneur named Fabian Thylmann transformed the somewhat popular site into a globally recognized brand, employing strategic methods to amplify its reach.
Pornhub's Owners Rebranded From Mancef to Manwin to Mindgeek, Often Due to Legal Troubles and Charges
Due to various legal issues, Pornhub’s owners underwent a series of rebrandings and sales of the company. Although these changes were noteworthy, there is no specific information provided about the transitions from Mancef to Manwin and eventually to MindGeek.
Mindgeek Gained Control of the Global Porn Industry By Acquiring Top Sites and Brands With a $362 Million Loan
Laying out its empire, MindGeek harnessed a $362 million loan to acquire a plethora of the most sought-after adult sites and brands. This deliberate consolidation placed it at the zenith of the global porn market. The loan that facilitated this expansive control came from hedge fund Colbek Capital, which harbored backing from 125 clandestine investors, including prominent institutions such as JP Morgan Chase and Cornell University.
Mi ...
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Pornhub and Mindgeek: History and Business Structure
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Clarifications
- The transitions from Mancef to Manwin to MindGeek were part of a series of rebrandings and restructuring efforts by the owners of Pornhub. These changes were often linked to legal issues and strategic business decisions to adapt to the evolving landscape of the adult entertainment industry. The specific reasons and details behind each rebranding have not been extensively documented in public sources. The transitions were significant in shaping the corporate identity and structure of the company, reflecting its growth and adaptation over time.
- The term "obscure investors" in the context of MindGeek implies that the identities and motives of the investors backing the company are not readily transparent or well-known to the public. This lack of transparency can complicate understanding who holds influence over the company and raises questions about accountability in its operations. The involvement of prominent institutions like JP Morgan Chase and Cornell University as ...
Counterarguments
- The initial purchase price of Pornhub may seem low, but it's important to consider the context of the time and the potential risks involved in investing in adult entertainment.
- While Fabian Thylmann played a significant role in Pornhub's growth, it's possible that other factors and individuals also contributed significantly to the brand's success.
- Rebranding due to legal issues is not uncommon in business and does not necessarily reflect the overall ethical standing or operational practices of a company.
- The acquisition of top adult sites and brands could be seen as a savvy business move rather than a negative one, as it demonstrates MindGeek's ability to capitalize on market opportunities.
- The involvement of a hedge fund and various investors in the loan for MindGeek's acquisitions is a standard practice in business finance and doe ...
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Inadequate Moderation on Pornhub Causes Illegal Content Distribution
Laila Mickelwait raises alarming concerns about Pornhub’s insufficient moderation practices, which have led to the distribution of illegal content involving child abuse, rape, and non-consensual material.
Pornhub Failed to Verify Age or Consent, Enabling Child Abuse, Rape, and Non-consensual Content
Pornhub's moderation failed to ensure the legality and consent of individuals in the videos, thus enabling the trafficking of child sexual abuse material and other non-consensual content. Pornhub, at the time, did not know which content was consensual or not, indicating profound failures in verifying age or consent of the individuals featured in videos. Mickelwait notes that even very young children, including a 12-year-old boy from Alabama, were victimized in videos found on Pornhub. The police repeatedly requested the removal of these videos, which remained on the site for months, gathering numerous monetized views. The company has now been pressured to begin verifying age and consent due to lawsuits involving nearly 300 victims.
Pornhub's Ease of Content Upload and VPN Use Enabled Illegal and Exploitative Material Distribution
The ease of uploading content—with only an email address required—has led to the rampant spread of illegal and exploitative content. Mickelwait emphasizes that Pornhub's content was uploaded without proper ID or consent verification processes, a policy choice that enabled abuse. The situation was exacerbated by providing a VPN service to users, which permitted anonymity and hindered law enforcement from tracking perpetrators.
Pornhub's Video Downloads Enable Spread of Non-consensual Content
A significant issue relates to Pornhub's video download functionality, which allowed the spread of non-consensual content. Mickelwait points out that this could make the company criminally liable for distributing such content without checking for age or consent. Additionally, the victims underwent further trauma as videos of their abuse were downloaded, re-uploaded, and redistributed.
Pornhub's notably inadequate moderation system, staffed by just 10 individuals, was expected to review an unrealistic number of videos. This team was tasked with vetting millions of videos quickly, which resulted in a backlog of flagged videos and content that prioritized volume over the legality and consent of the videos. Moreover, internal whistleblowers revealed that an emphasis on maximizing content approval resulted in overlooking illegal content. The company even refused employees' recommendations to remove search keywords th ...
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Inadequate Moderation on Pornhub Causes Illegal Content Distribution
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Actionables
- You can promote digital literacy by educating friends and family about the risks of sharing personal content online. Explain the potential for images and videos to be misused on platforms that lack proper moderation, and encourage them to think critically about where and how they share personal media.
- Opt for ethical consumption of media by researching and supporting platforms that enforce strict age verification and consent policies. This might involve subscribing to services that are transparent about their content policies and actively work to prevent the distribution of illegal material.
- Advocate for stronger regulations by contacting your local represe ...
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Laila Mickelwait's Impact On Holding Pornhub Accountable
Mickelwait Exposes Pornhub's Lax Moderation, Launches "Trafficking Hub" Campaign
Mickelwait's Campaign Exposed Pornhub's Crimes Through a Viral Petition, Media, and Legal Actions
In 2020, Laila Mickelwait began her fight to hold Pornhub accountable for hosting criminal content on their platform. She provided alarming data on the site's reach, including 6.9 million videos uploaded in 2019, drawing attention to Pornhub's vast scale. Mickelwait was spurred to action by news stories, such as the case of a missing 15-year-old girl found in 58 videos on Pornhub. She launched the "Trafficking Hub" movement, which started with a social media hashtag and quickly went viral. Mickelwait's efforts included testing Pornhub's lax upload system, which required just ten minutes and no ID or consent form, indicating a severe lack of moderation. Her campaign gained significant traction, leading to legal actions and widespread media coverage that exposed Pornhub's crimes.
Pornhub Deleted 91% of Content Due to Mickelwait's Efforts
Exploitation Survivors Support Mickelwait's Campaign, Share Stories and Seek Justice
Mickelwait's pointed criticism of Pornhub's practices and her campaign yielded tangible consequences. Her efforts caused credit card companies to cut off Pornhub, prompting the platform to remove an unprecedented 91% of its content. This was the removal of over 50 million images and videos. Her relentless work also brought to light the company’s documented decisi ...
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Laila Mickelwait's Impact On Holding Pornhub Accountable
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can support ethical content platforms by researching and subscribing to services that enforce strict content moderation policies. Look for platforms that transparently outline their moderation processes, have a clear reporting system for abusive content, and collaborate with law enforcement and NGOs to prevent exploitation. By choosing these services over those with lax moderation, you contribute to a demand for responsible content hosting.
- Educate yourself on the signs of exploitation and report any suspicious content you encounter online. Many organizations offer free resources and training on how to recognize signs of trafficking and abuse. By learning these signs and reporting content that seems exploitative, you help in the collective effort to combat illegal activities on content platforms.
- Advocate for stronger regulatio ...
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Stakeholder Involvement in Pornhub's Operations
The podcast discussion delves into how stakeholder interests in Pornhub, such as investment value, are heavily influenced by the controversies surrounding the company.
Visa and Mastercard Were Essential to Pornhub's Business Model and Were Targeted by Mickelwait's Campaign
Laila Mickelwait's campaign targeted Pornhub's reliance on financial services, identifying credit card companies Visa and Mastercard as the "Achilles heel" of Pornhub's business model. After PayPal, companies like Heinz and Unilever pulled their advertisements, emphasizing the growing concerns of involvement with Pornhub. The London Sunday Times' investigation and Mickelwait's shaming campaign brought critical media exposure.
Pressure From Mickelwait's Campaign, Lawsuits, and Public Outcry Led Credit Card Companies to Cut Services With Pornhub, Crippling Revenue
Following The New York Times' article "The Children of Pornhub," Mickelwait's persistent activism, alongside public outcry and significant lawsuits, put immense pressure on Visa and Mastercard. Subsequently, credit card companies cut off services with Pornhub, which led Pornhub to delete all unverified content in a bid to regain credit services. This dramatically affected Pornhub’s profitability. Visa's lost motion to dismiss a significant lawsuit increased the pressure, leading to a pivotal moment on CNBC's Squawk Box and Visa's eventual withdrawal from Pornhub. Investor Bill Ackman had a key role, as he helped to convince credit card companies to take this decisive action at the end of 2020, given his personal outrage at the issues.
Mickelwait argues that the reason Pornhub removed large portions of their content was the leverage exerted by the power of the credit card companies following the pressure mounted by her campaign.
Laws Enacted For Age and Consent Verification on User-Generated Content Platforms
"Take It Down Act" Criminalizes Non-consensual AI Content Distribution
Mickelwait advocates for stringent age and consent verification on all user-generated pornographic websites to curb the distribution of illegal content. She stresses the importance of verifying the age, ID, and consent for individuals in every video to deter exploitation.
Mickelwait also criticizes Sectio ...
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Stakeholder Involvement in Pornhub's Operations
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Counterarguments
- The effectiveness of Mickelwait's campaign might be overstated if other factors also played a significant role in Visa and Mastercard's decision to cut services with Pornhub.
- The deletion of unverified content on Pornhub could be seen as a proactive measure by the company to address concerns, rather than solely a reaction to credit card companies' leverage.
- The role of public outcry and media exposure in influencing Visa and Mastercard's decision could be considered just as pivotal as Mickelwait's campaign.
- The impact of Bill Ackman's involvement might be questioned if there were already existing internal discussions within credit card companies regarding their relationship with Pornhub.
- The criticism of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act may overlook the potential benefits it provides in terms of freedom of expression and innovation on the internet.
- Age verification laws, while intended to protect minors, could raise privacy concerns for adult users and potentially push illegal content into harder-to-monitor areas of the internet.
- The "Take It Down Act" might face challenges in enforcement and could inadvertently affect legitimate uses of AI in conten ...
Actionables
- You can support ethical online practices by using your purchasing power to patronize adult websites that enforce age and consent verification. By subscribing or making purchases only from platforms that transparently implement these measures, you contribute to a demand for responsible content distribution. For example, before engaging with a site, look for their verification policies or any statements about their efforts to combat illegal content.
- You can protect yourself and others from non-consensual AI-generated content by using browser extensions that block known deepfake websites. Extensions like these often update their databases with new sites as they emerge, helping you avoid inadvertently supporting these platforms. For instance, install an extension that alerts you when you're about to enter a site known for hosting deepfakes.
- You can advocate for responsible content sharing by educating your pe ...
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