Aylo Holdings (formerly MindGeek) has announced an agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York, concluding a comprehensive 30-month investigation into the company’s practices.

Aylo is the company behind the popular porn website Pornhub, which is rumored to get more than 1,000 visitors a second!

This investigation, which scrutinized Aylo and its affiliates for potential violations of federal laws against sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of minors, including child pornography, has not resulted in any criminal charges against the company.

The United States Attorney’s Office, after an exhaustive review involving the FBI, found no evidence that Aylo or its affiliates violated federal criminal laws related to sex trafficking or sexual exploitation of minors. Consequently, the office has agreed not to bring any charges against Aylo, provided the court approves the Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA).

Under the DPA, Aylo acknowledges its unintentional role in hosting content from the production company GirlsDoPorn/GirlsDoToys (GDP/GDT), which was later found to have engaged in criminal activities. Aylo, however, is not pleading guilty to any crime. The government will dismiss its charge against the company after three years, contingent on the court’s approval of the DPA and Aylo’s continued compliance with its terms.

Aylo has expressed deep regret over its platforms hosting content from GDP/GDT, acknowledging that the consent forms provided by the production company were obtained through fraudulent and coercive means. To support the victims of GDP/GDT, Aylo has voluntarily agreed to make monetary payments to individuals defrauded by the operators whose images were posted on the company’s platforms.

In response to these events, Aylo has implemented a comprehensive compliance program and internal controls to prevent the uploading and dissemination of illegal content. This includes:

• Human moderation and advanced technology for reviewing uploaded content.
• Proprietary and third-party AI-based software to detect potential underage content.
• Software to fingerprint and prevent the re-upload of identified illegal content, including non-consensual material.

Furthermore, Aylo is collaborating with law enforcement agencies to combat the dissemination of illegal content across the internet, including on platforms outside its control. An independent third-party Monitor will assess Aylo’s compliance program for three years, enhancing public confidence in the company’s commitment to safety and compliance.

Aylo Management has reaffirmed its commitment to content moderation and online safety, expressing gratitude for the US Attorney’s Office’s recognition of its trust and safety measures. Solomon Friedman, VP of Compliance at Ethical Capital Partners, emphasized the company’s zero-tolerance policy for illegal material and its ongoing collaboration with law enforcement and regulators.

This agreement and Aylo’s proactive measures represent a significant step in ensuring online safety and responsible content management in the adult entertainment industry. Aylo’s commitment to advanced safety protocols and its collaboration with law enforcement set a new standard for trust and safety in online platforms.