Visa May Walk Free in Pornhub Sex Trafficking Lawsuit, Judge Issues Tentative Ruling

April 26, 2025 – LOS ANGELES – In a high-profile legal battle that continues to shake the adult industry, a U.S. federal judge has tentatively dismissed claims against financial giant Visa in a lawsuit accusing Pornhub's former owners of profiting from child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and sex trafficking content once hosted on the platform.

The ruling, which has not yet been made public, was first reported by Courthouse News following a Thursday hearing in the Central District of California. U.S. District Judge Wesley Hsu sided with Visa's legal team, concluding that the company should not be held liable as it merely provided payment processing services—not content moderation or hosting—for Pornhub users.

The Lawsuit and Its Origins

The litigation stems from a consolidated class action involving over 15 lawsuits brought by a group of women—mostly identified as "Jane Does"—and led publicly by Serena Fleites, whose traumatic experience was at the center of the viral New York Times opinion piece “The Children of Pornhub” by Nicholas Kristof. The article sparked a global reckoning over content moderation, consent, and verification in the adult entertainment industry.

The suits allege that MindGeek—Pornhub’s parent company at the time (now rebranded as Aylo)—knowingly profited from videos depicting non-consensual sex, including minors, and failed to remove abusive content quickly or thoroughly. The platform was also accused of allowing reuploads of known CSAM content even after takedown requests.

What the Judge Ruled

Judge Hsu’s tentative decision also moves to dismiss claims against the former MindGeek executives and investors, including Bernd Bergmair, Feras Antoon, and David Tassillo. The court found insufficient personal jurisdiction over these individuals, citing Aylo's multinational structure, including incorporation in Luxembourg and operational bases in Canada, Europe, and the U.S.

This could shield some of the most powerful figures behind Pornhub during its most controversial period from further legal scrutiny—at least in the U.S. judicial system.

Pushback from Plaintiffs’ Attorneys

Attorney Michael Bowe, representing the plaintiffs, strongly criticized the judge’s tentative ruling, arguing that corporate structuring shouldn't allow top-level decision-makers to dodge accountability.

“Those three people who ran the company can't just walk away because of a complete fiction maintained by a handful of accountants and lawyers,” Bowe stated, referring to Bergmair, Antoon, and Tassillo.

Industry Repercussions

While this case is far from over, the implications are already rippling through the adult world. For platforms like Adults Villa and others committed to ethical adult content, this underscores the vital importance of verified content, transparent operations, and consent-first publishing practices.

The adult entertainment space has evolved rapidly, with most ethical platforms now requiring stringent age verification and ID checks for all content creators. Aylo, Pornhub’s current parent company following its acquisition by Ethical Capital Partners, claims to have implemented major reforms—but critics argue it may be too little, too late.

As the lawsuits proceed, this case serves as a stark reminder: profit should never come at the cost of consent or human dignity. The adult industry must continue to prioritize safety, consent, and accountability—not just because of public scrutiny, but because it’s the right thing to do.