Tech
Pornhub ordered to pay $5 million penalty to Utah for allegedly hosting illegal content
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.
Tech
Meta rolls out Facebook scam warnings
We've long seen a problem with fraud on Facebook and Instagram. Now the company behind both social networks appears to be going on the offensive against scammers — by announcing a sweeping slate of new AI-powered tools and law enforcement partnerships.
Meta says it removed over 159 million scam ads in 2025, and took down 10.9 million accounts on Facebook and Instagram tied to criminal scams. The company also participated in a disruption operation with the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the Royal Thai Police, resulting in the disabling of more than 150,000 accounts and 21 arrests.
The new tools rolling out across Meta's apps include real-time warnings on Facebook about suspicious friend requests, a WhatsApp alert system that flags potentially fraudulent device-linking attempts, and an expanded Messenger scam-detection feature that uses AI to analyze chat patterns and warn users before they get defrauded.
No new protections were announced for Instagram, which has also seen widespread security problems — most recently a spate of password reset emails.
Meta also says it plans to require advertiser verification across its highest-risk ad categories. Its goal: to have verified advertisers drive 90% of ad revenue by the end of 2026, up from 70% today.
The announcement comes as Meta faces fire on another front. CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand in a Los Angeles courtroom this week to defend the company against allegations that its platforms are engineered to hook children for profit.
Depending on where you're standing, Tuesday's announcement could read as a genuine safety push — or well-timed reputation management.
Tech
Sony sued over high PlayStation Store monopoly prices and download fees
A $2.7 billion dollar class action lawsuit against Sony is currently underway in the UK.
The issue at hand? Lawyers for the plaintiff are arguing that Sony is taking advantage of its "monopoly position" by forcing gamers to buy digital games solely through its PlayStation Store. The suit also claims Sony forced gamers to pay 'unfair download fees'.
The case went to London's Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) this week on behalf of 12 million PlayStation users in the UK.
The class action against Sony addresses similar issues that companies like Apple have experienced in the U.S., UK, and EU. Big tech companies like Google, Sony, and Apple have been accused of forcing developers and users alike to distribute and purchase content through their official digital stores. This allows these companies to set content rules and, crucially, prices. This can also prevent third parties from entering the market to compete.
"Sony can and does set the retail prices … without facing any retail competition for digital content," said lawyer Robert Palmer, who is representing the leading plaintiff Alex Neill in the lawsuit. "It allows [Sony] to obtain monopoly profits from digital distribution."
According to the lawsuit, Sony's monopoly over digital distribution for the PlayStation consoles has resulted in digital downloads costing more than physical hard copies of the games at times.
Sony's defense has been that allowing third parties to sell PlayStation content would bring on security and privacy risks for its users. The company also claims that the commission it makes from PlayStation Store sales covers the costs of its PlayStation consoles. Sony says PlayStation 5 prices, for example, result in low profit margins for the company.
If the lawsuit is successful, any consumer who purchased a PlayStation game or in-game content in the PlayStation Store over the last 10 years, up until last month, could be eligible for compensation. The legal team believes that there could be more than 12 million eligible users, each of whom would receive more than $200 in compensation.
In the EU, regulations have forced Apple to allow iOS app distribution through third-party app stores. In the UK, Apple is currently undergoing a process to "improve fairness" in its stores, but have not yet had to go the route of allowing third-party app stores.
CAT has previously ruled against Apple in a similar suit over the App Store's developer commissions, which Apple is currently looking to appeal.
In addition, last month, CAT paved the way for another such case against PC gaming platform Steam to proceed as well.
Tech
Stay powered up in any emergency with the Bluetti Elite 400 for its lowest price yet
SAVE $600: As of March 11, get the Bluetti Elite 400 portable power station for $1,298.98, down from its usual price of $1,899. That's a discount of 32% and the lowest price we've seen.
Springtime is just around the corner. That means warmer weather and the potential for some seriously damaging storms in certain areas. Where there are storms, there are power outages. Don't be caught unaware this year when your power goes out. Grab a portable power station to keep you afloat when the electricity is out, or at the very least to keep as a backup for other purposes. In fact, you can snag a great option right now for the lowest price we've seen.
As of March 11, get the Bluetti Elite 400 portable power station for $1,298.98, down from its usual price of $1,899. That's $600 off and a discount of 32%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.
The EcoFlow Delta 2 Max power station has dropped to its best-ever price at Amazon — save over $500
This absolute unit of a portable power station can go where you go, though it does weigh 80 pounds. It has an attached telescopic handle to make moving it around easier, so you can wheel it around to your closet or garage for safekeeping.
It boasts 3840Wh of power, with a 2600W output (3900W surge power), so it's got you covered if your power is out for a while. It can handle juicing up your phone and laptop, your fridge, even other small appliances all at once, so you don't have to worry about your food going bad or even missing a work meeting.
With nine ports, including four AC outlets, two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and a DC port, you can keep everything going at once if needed. And once you've depleted its charge, you can get it back up to full power in a little under 3 hours.
If you're ready to get prepared for any electric emergency, grab this power station while it's still discounted.
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