‘Landmark’ Case Against MindGeek Claims The Adult Sites Monetized the Sexual Abuse of Minors
By Movieguide® Staff
In a recent article, award-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof revisited the subject matter of his groundbreaking Dec. 2020 expose about how Pornhub and other adult sites profit from the sexual abuse of minors.
As California legislators crack down on Pornhub and Visa for monetizing “videos of child rapes,” a landmark lawsuit features the testimony of Serena Fleites—whom Kristof introduced to the world in his 2020 expose, ‘The Children of Pornhub.’
Movieguide® previously reported:
The report details how Pornhub turns a blind eye to the abuse of unconsenting young girls and their subsequent struggle to survive after mainstream exposure to their naked bodies.
Regardless of Pornhub’s intrinsic immorality, Kristof notes that the company claims that they are a “wholesome” brand that celebrates sex and sexuality safely.
However, Kristof’s report found otherwise: “Its site is infested with rape videos. It monetizes child rapes, revenge pornography, spy cam videos of women showering, racist and misogynist content, and footage of women being asphyxiated in plastic bags. A search for ‘girls under18′ (no space) or’ 14yo’ leads in each case to more than 100,000 videos.”
Pornhub, the media, and sites like it—Kristof mentions other companies that are arguably more lenient in their exploitation of young girls along with mass-media companies like Google and Facebook who sit idly by—have redefined love for an entire generation of children.
“I asked the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to compile the number of images, videos and other content related to child sexual exploitation reported to it each year,” Kristof said. “In 2015, it received reports of 6.5 million videos or other files; in 2017, 20.6 million; and in 2019, 69.2 million.”
Read More: MindGeek Under Legal Fire For Monetizing Sexual Exploitation of Children
Aside from Pornhub and its parent company, MindGeek, facing backlash, Kristof said that readers showed their support for Fleites.
“After my article, readers helped Serena get housing, education and legal help, and she also sued MindGeek, the company that owns Pornhub and other porn websites, along with Visa, which MindGeek depends on to make money,” Kristof wrote. “And let’s just pause to acknowledge Serena’s courage in talking to me, in allowing herself to be photographed, and in proceeding with this lawsuit. I’m full of admiration for her.”
While MindGeek and Visa wanted Fleites’ case dismissed, Judge Cormac Carney rejected their wishes and blasted both companies for blatant exploitation of a minor’s sexual abuse.
Read More: Comcast Removes All MindGeek Content Due to Sexual Exploitation, Awarded Dignity Defense Alert
Kristof’s article acted as a kickstart for legislators and advocacy groups to fight to protect children. But according to the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, his article about the harmful motives behind Pornhub spurred death threats.
“I got more death threats after my Pornhub article than after any other article I can remember, and I’ve always wondered if some might have been instigated by the company. Discovery in this case will be interesting,” Kristof said.
While Visa and Mastercard have since pulled their payment options on many of MindGeek’s adult sites, Judge Carney said that for Fleites’ case, Visa is not an “innocent party.”
“Plaintiff’s case focuses on the monetization of child porn after it was made and posted to MindGeek’s sites, which, if what Plaintiff alleges is true, Visa knowingly took part in,” the Judge wrote. “Plaintiff is suing MindGeek for—again in the words of section 1591—’ benefit[ting] financially’ from the child porn featuring Plaintiff, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that Plaintiff was a minor when such videos were produced, in violation of section 1591(a)(2). That is where Visa enters the picture in full view…”
“Plaintiff claims that MindGeek did these things for money, and Visa knowingly offered up its payment network so that MindGeek could satisfy that goal,” Carney added.
Despite the strides made over the past two years, Kristof encouraged his readers that there is still more work to be done to hold companies accountable.
“We should hold major international companies accountable when they try to profit from child rape,” he concluded in his article. “And that’s why this judge’s decision may be a landmark in ending that impunity.”
Read More: Porn Victims File $40 Million Lawsuit Against Pornhub, MindGeek
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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