Pornhub $120M Settlement Nears Approval With New Age Checks
A $120 million settlement with Pornhub's former owner Aylo nears court approval, requiring ID-based age verification.
Why it matters: Legal and compliance teams must note that platforms now face clearer obligations to verify ages and moderate harmful content rigorously. This legal ruling signals increased platform accountability for underage and nonconsensual videos.
- U.S. District Judge Wesley Hsu preliminarily approved the $120 million class action settlement against Pornhub's former owner MindGeek (now Aylo).
- Settlement requires government-issued ID verification for both uploaders and on-screen participants to block underage content.
- Coverage spans content from February 2011 through December 2024 involving under-18 subjects on MindGeek’s platforms.
- Judge Hsu rejected MindGeek’s claim to immunity under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, holding platforms liable for content moderation failures.
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has preliminarily approved a $120 million class action settlement in a suit against Pornhub and its former parent company MindGeek, now renamed Aylo. The lawsuit was brought by thousands of women alleging nonconsensual and underage explicit content was distributed without their permission.
The settlement applies to individuals under 18 when the videos were produced between February 12, 2011, and December 6, 2024, across MindGeek's platforms including Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube.
As mandated by the agreement, Aylo must implement stringent age verification procedures using government-issued IDs both for video participants shown and those uploading videos. This is designed as a more reliable method than previous practices to block child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and nonconsensual content.
Aylo will also upgrade content moderation with improved protocols to detect and remove illegal content faster. This includes systems to expedite takedown requests and enhanced safeguards against CSAM.
The court ruling is particularly notable for rejecting MindGeek’s assertion of Section 230 immunity, which traditionally protects platforms from liability for user-generated content. Judge Wesley Hsu stated, "Section 230 is not intended to protect MindGeek from its own malfeasance," emphasizing that platforms can face legal consequences for failing to curb illegal material effectively.
Alongside the settlement, regulatory actions by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the state of Utah complement these legal developments. Aylo agreed to a $5 million penalty in Utah and to enforce robust privacy, security, and anti-CSAM programs as part of the resolutions.
This case marks a significant evolution in legal expectations for adult content platforms. It underscores the increasing regulatory and judicial pressure to implement effective age and consent verification and take responsibility for user-uploaded content.
Legal professionals advising clients on platform liability, digital compliance, or litigation involving online content should monitor these developments closely, as they signal a tightening legal landscape around content moderation and platform accountability.
By the numbers:
- $120 million — preliminary class action settlement amount
- February 12, 2011 to December 6, 2024 — period covered by settlement for underage content
- $5 million — penalty paid to Utah in related agreement
Yes, but: While the settlement is a major step, it remains preliminary and requires final court approval; ongoing litigation and regulatory oversight continue to evolve.
What's next: The court is expected to hold a final approval hearing later in 2024; subsequent compliance monitoring and regulatory enforcement actions will follow.