Aylo (Pornhub) Settles CSAM Class-Action Lawsuits for $120M

Aylo, the company operating Pornhub and other adult content platforms, has agreed to settlement terms in two class-action lawsuits alleging that its predecessor, MindGeek, knowingly permitted and profited from child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on its sites. This development follows a separate settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the state of Utah regarding similar allegations of deceptive business practices.

The two class-action cases, Jane Doe v. MindGeek USA Inc. et al. and Doe #1 et al v. MG Freesites LTD et al., were filed after the 2020 New York Times article "The Children of Pornhub" by journalist Nicholas Kristof. This article alleged deficient content moderation practices by Pornhub when it was operated by MindGeek. Anti-pornography groups cited the piece as evidence for their claims linking the online adult industry with sex trafficking and CSAM.

Class-Action Settlement Details

U.S. district courts granted class certification in both cases for individuals who were under 18 when they appeared in a video or image viewable on any MindGeek website starting in February 2011. After a period of mediation, the parties signed a term sheet in June and began finalizing a joint settlement agreement. On Friday, August 15, 2026, the proposed agreement was filed with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, seeking preliminary approval.

Under the proposed agreement, Aylo does not concede wrongdoing or make any admission regarding its entitlement to immunity under Section 230. However, the company has agreed to pay $120 million into a settlement fund over six years. Additionally, Aylo will implement a series of security measures. These measures include verifying the ages of uploaders and individuals appearing in content, detecting and removing suspected or actual CSAM, and expanding procedures for content removal requests, withdrawal of consent requests, and content flagging.

Aylo has stated that many of these measures have already been implemented. The company publicly announced that as of June 30, 2025, any content not meeting its performer verification standards would be disabled and removed from Pornhub. A final approval hearing for the settlement will be held at least 96 days after the preliminary order is approved. Class members will have an opportunity to file objections to the proposed settlement before this hearing.

Acquisition and Transparency Campaign

MindGeek, the former parent company of Pornhub, was acquired by Ethical Capital Partners in 2023. Following the acquisition, the company was renamed Aylo, and it initiated a campaign focused on transparency. Since then, Aylo has been addressing multiple legal actions that were originally directed against MindGeek.

Utah and FTC Settlement

In a separate legal development, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the state of Utah announced a settlement with the operators of Pornhub and other pornography-streaming sites. This agreement resolves charges that the companies deceived 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 such content was "strictly prohibited."

The Office of the Utah Attorney General, the Utah Department of Commerce’s Division of Consumer Protection, in partnership with the FTC, reached this settlement with Aylo, which operates Pornhub.com and Redtube.com. The agreement mandates Aylo to implement robust Trust & Safety programs and pay up to $15 million in penalties to resolve allegations of unconscionable and deceptive business practices. Utah Attorney General Derek Brown spoke at a press conference at the Utah Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, announcing the settlement. Governor Spencer Cox stated, "Companies that profit from such conduct must be held accountable."

Investigators had uncovered practices that allowed harmful content to thrive on Aylo’s platforms. The settlement aims to ensure Aylo takes steps to prevent CSAM and NCM from appearing on its websites, protect consumers, uphold privacy, and restore accountability. Key requirements of this agreement include a CSAM and NCM prevention program, removal of such material, verification that uploaders are at least 18 years old and have given written consent, independent audits every two years for 10 years, and biannual reports on prevention efforts.

Key Facts

• Aylo has agreed to a $120 million settlement fund over six years for two class-action lawsuits.
• The class actions, Jane Doe v. MindGeek USA Inc. et al. and Doe #1 et al v. MG Freesites LTD et al., were certified for individuals under 18 appearing in content on MindGeek sites since February 2011.
• Aylo will implement security measures for age verification, CSAM detection and removal, and content flagging.
• MindGeek was acquired by Ethical Capital Partners in 2023 and renamed Aylo.
• Aylo also settled with the FTC and the state of Utah, agreeing to pay up to $15 million in penalties and implement Trust & Safety programs.
• The Utah settlement requires Aylo to undergo independent audits every two years for 10 years and publish biannual prevention reports.