placeholder when text actions are loaded
Two top executives of Pornhub’s parent company MindGeek have resigned amid allegations that the site does not promptly or adequately remove non-consensual and underage sex content.
MindGeek confirmed the departure of CEO Ferrous Anton and COO David Tasillo in a statement on Tuesday.
“Antoon and Tasillo leave the day-to-day operations of MindGeek after more than a decade in leadership positions with the company,” the company told The Washington Post. “MindGeek’s executive leadership team will run day-to-day operations on an interim basis, with the search underway for a replacement.”
News of the departure comes nearly a week after a New Yorker article detailing People’s efforts to get PorHub to remove sexually explicit material that included underage and non-consensual participants. The departure announcement is not related to the piece, MindGeek told The Post.
The company said in a statement that it has implemented the most comprehensive security measures “in the history of the Internet” and that the data proves that its policies have been in effect. The statement cited a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children showing that there were some instances of child sexual abuse at Pornhub and that it allowed cases of such content to be “notified among all major platforms including Facebook, Twitter, etc.” After removed in the shortest possible time. YouTube, and much more. ”
“The New Yorker had the opportunity to seriously evaluate what works in fighting illegal content on the Internet by looking at the facts, comparing the platform’s policies, and studying the results,” the MindGeek statement said. “Instead, they chose to ignore the fact that MindGeek has more comprehensive and effective policies than any other major platform on the Internet, and decided to stop the same gross misogyny that anti-porn extremists have for decades.” spit out.”
Alana Evans, president of the Adult Performance Artists Guild, a union for adult performers, said the news of the entertainer’s departure was shocked by such resignations. Usually come as a result of bad press or scandal.
“Time is out of the blue,” Evans told The Post, but added that he didn’t think the resignations were tied to the New Yorker piece. MindGeek has fought lawsuits and negative articles in the past, she said.
In December 2020, Mastercard, Visa and Discover barred customers from using their credit cards on Pornhub’s website after the New York Times published an opinion piece accusing Pornhub of being rife with non-consensual and child abuse content. Of.
The New Yorker piece, which Evans called “a hit job”, cites several organizations, such as the National Center on Sexual Exploitation and Exodus Cry, that have been at the forefront of advancing legislation and corporate decisions that protect sex workers. make it difficult. hire.
Sex workers fear only fans’ decision to ban pornographic content will push them into more shadow
Evans said he was shocked by the exit of top executives, but added that their resignations probably won’t affect the day-to-day lives of the artists as the people in those positions are already far from the average artist’s routine.
“MindGeek is corporate porn,” she said, naming the smaller outlets. “Other owners and CEOs are far more involved in porn and product.”
What’s next for MindGeek is primarily on the minds of people in the industry, especially for Pornhub. Evans said the company has an opportunity to put a woman in charge.
MindGeek said it is at the beginning of investing in its “creator-first offerings and additional opportunities for content monetization, with plans to use the resources to grow in this growing business as the company is a force in digital video and Tube sites.” made of. .”
Mastercard breaks up with Pornhub citing illegal content
According to Evans, moving to models where it can compete with customer-based and manufacturer-driven platforms such as Patreon and Onlyfan makes good business sense.
“That’s hot. That’s what people want,” she said, adding that limiting free content is always good for artists because most platforms make money from advertising. “The more free content that gets pulled in, the more money we make. earn.”
