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Pornhub ordered to pay $5 million penalty to Utah for allegedly hosting illegal content

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The Federal Trade Commission and Utah ordered Pornhub to pay $5 million penalty to the state for allegedly "deceiving" users about its efforts to restrict child sex abuse material (CSAM) and non-consensual material (NCM) from its site, the FTC announced today.

In a press release, the FTC and Utah claimed that Pornhub and its parent company, Aylo (formerly MindGeek), didn't do enough to remove the illegal content from its website.

In December 2020, Pornhub banned downloads and unverified uploads in the aftermath of a New York Times op-ed about CSAM and NCM posted to the popular porn tube site. The complaint alleges, among other complaints, that Aylo didn't conduct audits of CSAM and NCM until that same year, when credit card processors threatened to cut off their services (some later did after the Times piece). According to internal documents from the company reviewed by the New York Times, Pornhub didn't remove content flagged by users until it reached 16 flags, and didn't ban individuals who uploaded illegal content.

The FTC and Utah also allege that Aylo didn't protect models' privacy and security. Anyone who now appears in a video uploaded to Pornhub must be verified, and to do so, you need to upload personal information like government IDs to a third-party vendor. The complaint claims that Aylo didn't disclose that this personal data would be obtained from the vendor and retained.

In addition to the fine, the FTC and Utah are requiring Aylo to implement a program to "prevent the publication or dissemination of CSAM and NCM content." Aylo is also required to remove content uploaded prior to this program until Aylo verifies performers' ages. Pornhub previously deleted all unverified videos after the Times op-ed in December 2020. Additionally, they're requiring Aylo to implement a system to verify those who appear in videos and provide consent; this system already exists.

Aylo must post a notice on Pornhub informing users about the complaint's allegations and implement a comprehensive privacy and security program.

"Pornhub's operators turned a blind eye to the proliferation of videos depicting the sexual abuse of children on its sites so it could profit off this exploitation," said director of the FTC's bureau of consumer protection, Christopher Mufarrige, in the press release. "Under the order we're announcing today, Pornhub's operators will be required to take concrete steps to block this harmful content and ensure that those who appear in videos on their sites are consenting adults."

According to 404 Media, the complaint against Pornhub focuses mostly on pre-2020 content. An Aylo representative reiterated this in a statement to Mashable, and said that it has taken "proactive measures to protect its users and platforms and to prevent the publication of illegal material on Aylo sites," including mandatory verification and proof of consent.

"The resolution reached involved enhancements to existing measures but did not introduce any new substantive requirements that were not either already in place or in progress. This settlement resolves the investigation and underscores Aylo's commitment to robust safety protocols that should be applied broadly across all websites publishing user generated content," Aylo stated.

"Aylo supports vigorous enforcement against CSAM and NCM, and encourages the FTC and Utah DCP [Division of Consumer Protection] to extend their initiative to protect the public across the broader internet, adult and mainstream, fostering a safer online environment for everyone. Throughout the investigation, Aylo worked to cooperatively resolve the concerns raised by the FTC and Utah DCP."

If you have experienced sexual abuse, call the free, confidential National Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or access help online 24/7 by visiting RAINN online.

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How to watch Switzerland vs. Germany online for free

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Leon Goretzka of Germany celebrates

TL;DR: Live stream Switzerland vs. Germany in a 2026 International Friendly for free on RTS. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.


There are a number of really interesting International Friendlies taking place this week, including Switzerland vs. Germany.

This is a great opportunity for these sides to test out new formations, experiment with new players, and generally build some positive momentum before this summer's World Cup. We expect a competitive contest between two experienced sides, with the likes of Joshua Kimmich and Florian Wirtz expected to feature.

If you want to watch Switzerland vs. Germany in a 2026 International Friendly for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Switzerland vs. Germany?

Switzerland vs. Germany kicks off at 3:45 p.m. ET on March 27. This fixture takes place at the St. Jakob Park.

How to watch Switzerland vs. Germany for free

Switzerland vs. Germany is available to live stream for free on RTS.

RTS is geo-restricted to Switzerland, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Switzerland, meaning you can access free live streams on RTS from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Switzerland vs. Germany for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Switzerland

  4. Visit RTS

  5. Stream Switzerland vs. Germany for free from anywhere in the world


ExpressVPN logo

Credit: ExpressVPN

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Switzerland vs. Germany without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select games before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for RTS?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTS, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Switzerland

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Switzerland vs. Germany for free with ExpressVPN.

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Tech

Hurry: The Nothing Ear (a) earbuds just hit a record-low price for Amazons Big Spring Sale

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Nothing ear earbuds against a colorful background.

SAVE 46%: As of March 27, you can get the Nothing Ear (a) wireless earbuds for $58.99, down from $109, at Amazon. That's a 46% discount or a $50.01 price cut.


If you want a pair of earbuds that stand out from the crowd without emptying your wallet, the Nothing Ear (a) should definitely be on your radar. For the Big Spring Sale, they've dropped to just $58.99, which is $50 off their usual $109 list price.

Mashable's Tech Reporter, Alex Perry, recently rounded up the reviews for these buds, and the consensus is that they deliver way more than their price tag suggests. They offer an open-midrange sound and clarity that outperform those of standard, more expensive AirPods, and they have active noise cancellation strong enough to drown out loud household distractions. Plus, you'll get around five hours of battery life even with every single battery-draining feature turned on at once, like ANC and multipoint pairing.

As always, I checked the fine print, and there are a couple of things you should know. Perry noted that the biggest critique across the board is that the charging case lacks Qi wireless charging and relies strictly on USB-C. But skipping wireless charging is a fair trade-off for a case that's as small and pocketable as Apple's AirPods. Also, according to the Amazon listing, the voice-enabled ChatGPT feature will only work on a Nothing series phone. Still, grabbing earbuds with this level of sound quality for under $60 is a total steal.

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How to watch Austria vs. Ghana online for free

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Antoine Semenyo of Ghana poses

TL;DR: Live stream Austria vs. Ghana in a 2026 International Friendly for free on ORF. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.


There are an incredible number of top International Friendlies taking place this week. We're being spoilt with Brazil vs. France, Colombia vs. Croatia, and a string of other high-profile contests. Austria vs. Ghana is not the biggest game on the schedule, but we're still making time to watch this interesting matchup.

If you want to watch Austria vs. Ghana in a 2026 International Friendly for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Austria vs. Ghana?

Austria vs. Ghana kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on March 27. This fixture takes place at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion.

How to watch Austria vs. Ghana for free

Austria vs. Ghana is available to live stream for free on ORF.

ORF is geo-restricted to Austria, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Austria, meaning you can access free live streams on ORF from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Austria vs. Ghana for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Austria

  4. Visit ORF

  5. Stream Austria vs. Ghana for free from anywhere in the world


ExpressVPN logo

Credit: ExpressVPN

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Austria vs. Ghana without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select games before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ORF?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ORF, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Austria

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Austria vs. Ghana for free with ExpressVPN.

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