The parent company of Pornhub, Aylo, has agreed to pay Utah $5 million and potentially up to $15 million in fines for distributing child sexual abuse materials and nonconsensual content, violating laws and ignoring flags for years. The settlement requires Aylo to implement measures to prevent illegal content, verify consent, and respond to reports, with ongoing audits to ensure compliance. The case highlights efforts to hold online platforms accountable for harmful content.
The State of Utah and the FTC have filed a complaint against adult website operator Aylo, accusing it of knowingly distributing child sex abuse material and non-consensual content, leading to a proposed consent order that includes a $5 million fine, content verification, and stricter safeguards to prevent future illegal content, emphasizing ongoing efforts to combat online exploitation.
Searches for VPNs in Texas surged after Pornhub and its affiliated adult websites blocked access in protest of the state's age-verification law, leading users to seek ways to bypass the restriction. The company criticized the law as "ineffective, haphazard and dangerous" and disabled access to comply with it. The move has sparked interest in VPN services, with Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, Austin, Waco-Temple-Bryan, and San Antonio showing the highest search interest. Aylo, the parent company, is exploring legal options and continues to fight the law's constitutionality, while also facing similar restrictions in seven other U.S. states.
