PornHub Goes to Trial for Allegations of Distributing Teen Abuse Video
By Movieguide® Contributor
Pornography website PornHub is being sued for allegedly exploiting the filmed rape and abuse of a 16-year-old girl and profiting from it.
“In an Order issued on Thursday the Federal Court in Alabama denied Pornhub’s motion for summary judgment and ruled that the pornography giant must face trial on claims of sex trafficking and possessing, creating, and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM),” the National Center on Sexual Exploitation reported.
PornHub stated that it is “immune from liability” because of Section 230, which allows websites “to carry the speech of individuals without risking significant legal liability for the content of the speakers.” However, the court denied that this situation fell under this protection, and the lawsuit will go to trial.
“CSAM, by contrast, is itself a violent crime, a record of that crime, and contraband — not information. Accordingly, this Court again finds that Section 230(c) of the CDA does not immunize Defendants from Plaintiff’s claim that they violated the child pornography statues,” the judge wrote in the ruling.
CEO of the Justice Defense Fund Laila Mickelwait said of the situation, “This decision is a powerful step forward for justice. The evidence of criminal complicity by Pornhub’s executives is overwhelming. In addition to restitution for all victims, full criminal prosecution of the company and its executives is essential to ensure justice for survivors and to deter future abusers.”
READ MORE: WHY THIS WOMAN IS ON A MISSION TO STOP PORNHUB
The abuser in this situation drugged the girl before abusing her, and the first video was uploaded in 2018. Christian Post reported, “The content uploaded online depicting Jane Doe’s abuse included 34 videos and six photo albums.”
The outlet added, “The perpetrator later pled guilty in April 2022 to ‘dissemination/display of obscene matter’ involving someone younger than 17, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Jane Doe filed a class action lawsuit against the defendants in February 2021.”
“This significant ruling is a victory for the brave Survivor-Plaintiff as it ensures Pornhub cannot use Section 230 as a legal shield and must face accountability for profiting from her child sexual abuse,” Dani Pinter, senior vice president and director of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation Law Center, said.
READ MORE: THE EFFECTS OF PORNOGRAPHY ON INDIVIDUALS, MARRIAGE, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY
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