Pornhub, a name once synonymous with the vast world of online adult entertainment, has a sinister underbelly that remains hidden behind its sleek interface. Despite new ownership and attempts at rebranding, the platform continues to be a hub for unverified, illegal content. This article delves into the dark reality of Pornhub, revealing how it remains a trafficking hub, perpetuating the trauma of countless victims while evading true accountability.
Pornhub: A Digital Crime Scene Pornhub is a crime scene. You read that right. The site, now owned by a hastily formed private equity firm called Ethical Capital Partners, continues to monetize and globally distribute countless user-generated sex videos. These videos were never reliably verified to ensure that the individuals in them are not children, rape victims, trafficking victims, or revenge porn victims. Even under new management, the site is still infested with illegal content.
A Dramatic Downfall Over the past few years, Pornhub has faced a dramatic downfall after being exposed and held accountable for profiting from mass sexual crime. The fallout included the site taking down 80% of its videos—totaling 10 million unverified videos and over 30 million images—being completely cut off by Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and PayPal, and losing all mainstream advertisers. The CEO and COO of its parent company resigned in disgrace, and the distressed company was sold.
New Owners, Same Problems However, the new owners aren’t much better than the old ones. They renamed the parent company from “MindGeek” to “Aylo” in an attempt to distance it from its toxic reputation. Yet, men who have been with the company well before it was exposed—those who enabled the global distribution and monetization of victims’ trauma—still occupy executive offices.
The Public Face of a Dark Reality The public face of Pornhub’s new ownership, Canadian criminal defense attorney Solomon Friedman, has defended men accused of possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material. He even praised an attorney who got a man off on a technicality after being found with 7,730 images of child sexual abuse. Does he intend to try and get Pornhub off the hook the same way? The victims of Pornhub won’t allow it.
Immortalizing Trauma The consequences for victims of this abuse are severe. Victims often describe the widespread dissemination of their rape and abuse as the “immortalization” of their trauma. They could be fighting to remove their abuse from the internet for the rest of their lives. This constant battle leads many survivors to become suicidal, with nearly half of the victims contemplating suicide and some tragically dying by suicide.
Legal Battles and Explosive Evidence Since 2020, nearly 300 victims have sued Pornhub in 25 lawsuits for its knowing distribution and monetization of rape and trafficking. These lawsuits include multiple class actions representing tens of thousands of child victims, and the U.S. federal government has criminally charged Pornhub for knowingly profiting from sex trafficking. Just last month, 13 child victims sued Pornhub as well as its owners and financial enablers.
Whitewashing and Renaming No amount of whitewashing, renaming, and rebranding can hide the truth. As one attorney defending over 100 victims said about the attempted rebrand, “If you swim in a sea of s**t, it’s hard to lose the smell.” The Canadian government conducted a multi-year investigation of Pornhub, culminating in a damning report that found it had violated Canadian privacy law. Pornhub’s new owners sued the government to hide the report from the public but lost.
Still a Trafficking Hub A quick search on Pornhub today reveals highly monetized, unverified, homemade videos showing vulnerable, drug-addicted, homeless women being coerced into sex acts. In minutes, I found unverified homemade videos of women yelling at their abusers to stop, crying out “it hurts!” and “turn the camera off.” There is no doubt that Pornhub is still a trafficking hub. It’s time to force it to delete every unverified video on the site.
A Call for Justice But that isn’t nearly enough. Victims deserve the full weight of justice. They need to see criminal convictions and significant restitution for how their lives have been shattered. We urgently need laws mandating reliable, third-party age and consent verification for every individual in every video on every website distributing user-generated porn.
The Fight Continues It’s time to hold Pornhub and its owners accountable to the full extent of the law and to enact policies to prevent this kind of abuse in the future. We must do it because serious harm demands serious consequences to bring true justice to victims and deter future abusers.
Laila Mickelwait is the Founder and CEO of the Justice Defense Fund, Founder of the Traffickinghub movement, and the author of “Takedown: Inside the Fight to Shut Down Pornhub for Child Abuse, Rape, and Sex Trafficking” (Penguin Random House/Thesis, July 23, 2024).
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As the year draws to a close and the festive spirit fills the air, we at BCAMS Magazine want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey of the past year and, most importantly, express our heartfelt gratitude to the models who bring this industry to life.
Your dedication, creativity, and authenticity light up the screens and touch the hearts of fans around the globe. Every day, you create connections, share moments of joy, and inspire confidence in ways that are truly remarkable. It’s your individuality and passion that make this community not just a workplace but a vibrant and supportive family.
This holiday season, let’s celebrate all that you’ve achieved and the connections you’ve built. Whether it’s through festive-themed streams, dazzling costumes, or creating spaces where fans feel welcome, your efforts do not go unnoticed. You are the true stars of this industry, and we are honored to spotlight your talent in every edition of BCAMS Magazine.
As you embrace the magic of Christmas, may it bring you joy, relaxation, and the chance to recharge for the exciting opportunities ahead. Here’s to celebrating your success and cherishing the moments that make this season special.
From everyone at BCAMS Magazine, thank you for inspiring us every single day. Wishing you a warm and wonderful holiday season filled with love, laughter, and light! 🎄✨
Byborg Enterprises SA and PLBY Group closed strategicpartnership to drive innovation in Premium online entertainment
Luxembourg/Los Angeles – December 17, 2024 Byborg Enterprises SA, a leading premium online entertainment company, has closed a strategic partnership with PLBY Group, the powerhouse behind the globally recognized brand Playboy and signed a definitive share purchase agreement that, subject to the approval of PLBY shareholders, will lead Byborg Enterprises SA up to a maximum of 29.99% shareholding in PLBY Inc.
The deal includes a long-term licensing agreement and an additional equity investment. Byborg will license Playboy’s digital IP and operate key assets, including Playboy Plus, Playboy TV, and the Playboy Club creator platform.
This partnership, valued at $300 million over an initial 15-year term, will fuse Playboy ‘s legacy with Byborg Enterprises SA’s cutting-edge technology and audience reach of 70 million daily visitors.
Starting in 2025, PLBY Group will appoint a Byborg-designated director to its board, along with an additional independent director.
Andras Somkuti, Managing Director of Byborg Enterprises SA, commented: “Playboy is one of the largest and most recognizable brands in the world. It has long been a leading lifestyle brand and the premium name in the NSFW space. By combining our advanced technology, innovative products, and management expertise with Playboy’s global recognition, we’re confident this partnership will be a game-changing success. We see tremendous potential to grow audiences, create new revenue streams, and develop innovative products that drive significant growth. Recognizing this potential, we’re also pleased to increase our equity stake in PLBY Group, reinforcing our commitment to this collaboration and its future.”
Ben Kohn, Chief Executive Officer of PLBY Group, added: “Partnering with Byborg Enterprises SA aligns the Playboy brand with a proven leader in premium online entertainment. Byborg brings a strong track record of expanding audiences, monetizing content, and leveraging cutting-edge technology to unlock new revenue streams. With Byborg’s 70 million daily visitors, I’m confident we’ll introduce the Playboy brand to broader and more diverse audiences than ever before. By licensing our brand and entrusting Byborg Enterprises SA to manage our adult legacy sites, linear TV channel, and Playboy Club creator platform, we can accelerate our shift to a more profitable, assetlight business model. Once this transition is complete by June 30, 2025, we’ll be able to focus on growing our licensing operations and investing in our brand’s future. This strategic move will allow us to cut significant costs, improve EBITDA, and achieve positive cash flow.”
About Byborg Enterprises SA Headquartered in Luxembourg, Byborg Enterprises SA is a privately held premium online entertainment company that is redefining the future of human interaction and reshaping digital relationships through innovative technology. Founded with a global mindset, the company aims to reach every corner of the world. With over 70 million daily visitors engaging with their streaming and technology products, Byborg Enterprises SA facilitates seamless interaction among people 24/7. More information is available at https://byborgenterprises.com
About PLBY Group, Inc. PLBY Group, Inc. is a global pleasure and leisure company connecting consumers with products, content, and experiences that help them lead more fulfilling lives. PLBY Group’s flagship consumer brand, Playboy, is one of the most recognizable brands in the world, driving billions of dollars in global consumer spending, with products and content available in approximately 180 countries. PLBY Group’s mission—to create a culture where all people can pursue pleasure—builds upon over 70 years of creating groundbreaking media and hospitality experiences and fighting for cultural progress rooted in the core values of equality, freedom of expression and the idea that pleasure is a fundamental human right. Learn more at https://plbygroup.com
Election Stress and Online Habits: A Look at Pornhub’s 2024 Traffic Patterns
Election Day isn’t just about casting votes—it’s also a day where emotions run high, routines shift, and stress levels soar. Fascinating insights into these dynamics come from an unlikely source: Pornhub’s 2024 Election Day traffic data. By examining patterns in adult site traffic, we can explore potential links between collective emotional states, voter behavior, and the broader cultural context of a high-stakes election.
Morning Traffic Surge: A Pre-Voting Stress Relief?
On Election Day morning, Pornhub traffic spiked by up to 15%. This uptick could reflect a need for stress relief before facing the tension of voting and awaiting results. For many, visiting an adult site in the morning might serve as a way to mentally prepare for the day ahead, especially during a contentious election cycle like 2024.
This pre-election activity could hint at voters trying to balance their personal anxiety with a desire to engage in civic duty. It also raises questions about how people manage their emotions during pivotal national events.
Evening Drop: Total Focus on the Polls
The most striking trend occurred in the evening, when Pornhub traffic dropped by as much as 19%. This aligns with polling locations closing and election results starting to come in. Such a sharp decline suggests a collective shift in focus toward real-time election coverage.
This drop might also reflect heightened emotional investment among certain voter bases. For instance, Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign heavily relied on emotive rhetoric, energizing his supporters. If his base was particularly motivated and active, this could explain why they were glued to election results rather than seeking their usual online distractions.
Late-Night Spike: Processing the Results
By 3 a.m., as Trump’s victory became increasingly apparent, Pornhub traffic spiked again, reaching 11% above average. This late-night surge could indicate people returning to familiar routines after hours of intense focus. For some, it might have been an outlet to process emotions—whether relief, stress, or resignation.
This pattern also underscores how major events like elections can disrupt regular habits and create unique behavioral rhythms that ripple through society.
What These Patterns Suggest About Voter Behavior
While Pornhub traffic patterns cannot directly influence election outcomes, they provide a fascinating glimpse into the public’s emotional state during a highly charged day. The drop in traffic during critical voting and result-watching periods could imply a motivated electorate deeply engaged in the process.
For Trump’s supporters, who rallied around his campaign’s strong emotional messaging, this heightened focus might reflect their determination to see their candidate succeed. The traffic drop may suggest that the public prioritized participation and real-time engagement with the election over other distractions.
A Window Into Election Day Stress
This analysis highlights how societal stress and engagement manifest in surprising ways during pivotal moments. The intersection of digital behavior and civic activity opens a new lens to study public emotions, motivations, and collective focus during elections.
While countless factors contributed to Trump’s 2024 victory, from campaign strategies to voter turnout efforts, the Pornhub data offers a unique glimpse into how the nation processes high-stakes events. Whether through stress relief, intense focus, or late-night unwinding, these patterns paint a picture of an electorate emotionally invested in the outcome of a historic election.
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