Mastercard to investigate claims against Pornhub
Mastercard said on Sunday it was investigating allegations against Pornhub.com after a New York Times opinion piece said many videos posted on the adult website depicted child sexual abuse.
The column, written by Nicholas Kristof, described videos on Pornhub that he said were recordings of assaults on unconscious women and girls.
Pornhub denied the allegations and said in a statement emailed to Reuters: "Any assertion that we allow child sexual abuse material is irresponsible and flagrantly untrue."
Mastercard told Reuters in its own statement: "If the claims are substantiated, we will take immediate action."
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman called on Mastercard and Visa to temporarily withhold payments to Pornhub following the New York Times column. Visa did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also took notice, saying his government was working with police and security officials to address the issues raised in the New York Times column, which also said 20 "members of Canada’s Parliament have called on their government to crack down on Pornhub, which is effectively based in Montreal."
In the United States, Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri said he will introduce legislation to create a federal right to sue for every person "coerced or trafficked or exploited by sites like Pornhub."
