Visa Suspends MindGeek's TrafficJunky

[DVTimes]

https://usa.visa.com/visa-everywhere...542369610.html

On Friday, July 29, a federal court issued a decision in ongoing litigation involving MindGeek, the owner of Pornhub and other websites. In this pre-trial decision, the court denied Visa’s motion to be removed from the case on a theory that Visa was complicit in MindGeek’s actions because Visa payment cards were used to pay for advertising on MindGeek sites, among other claims. We strongly disagree with this decision and are confident in our position.

I have been a business leader long enough to know that court cases can take years. I also recognize that it is not customary for an executive to weigh in on legal matters in advance of a final ruling. This situation, however, is different, and as CEO – and a father and grandfather – I feel compelled to speak out.

At this early stage in the case, courts must accept as true all allegations made in a lawsuit – even if they are not accurate or proven. In our view, our company’s role, policies, and practices have been mischaracterized. The allegations in this lawsuit are repugnant and stand in direct contradiction to Visa’s values and purpose.

Let me be clear: Visa condemns sex trafficking, sexual exploitation, and child sexual abuse. It is illegal, and Visa does not permit the use of our network for illegal activity. Our rules explicitly and unequivocally prohibit the use of our products to pay for content that depicts nonconsensual sexual behavior or child sexual abuse. We are vigilant in our efforts to deter this and other illegal activity on our network. Moreover, we require Visa’s financial institution clients, which maintain the direct relationships with merchants, to assure and attest to merchants’ compliance with our standards. 

With respect to MindGeek specifically, we suspended sites that contained user-generated content in December 2020 and acceptance on those sites has not been reinstated. Despite what you may have read in recent days, you cannot use your Visa card on Pornhub.

The legal decision, with which we disagree, has also created new uncertainty about the role of TrafficJunky, MindGeek’s advertising arm. Accordingly, we will suspend TrafficJunky’s Visa acceptance privileges based on the court’s decision until further notice. During this suspension, Visa cards will not be able to be used to purchase advertising on any sites including Pornhub or other MindGeek affiliated sites.

Visa has longstanding rules and processes designed to uphold the integrity of our network. We have taken this opportunity to reiterate and reinforce our requirements with respect to legal transactions with all acquiring institutions – those institutions that bring merchants to our network and hold direct relationships with them. We have made it clear that acquirers and merchants who are unable to meet our standards and requirements are not welcome on our network.

It is Visa’s policy to follow the law of every country in which we do business. We do not make moral judgments on legal purchases made by consumers, and we respect the rightful role of lawmakers to make decisions about what is legal and what is not. Accordingly, Visa can be used only at MindGeek studio sites that feature adult professional actors in legal adult entertainment.  

As I’ve said, Friday’s news concerned a pre-trial decision before Visa has presented any evidence. We look forward to shining a light onto the lengths Visa goes to ensure the integrity of our people and network.

[TheSenator]

Brazzers, Reality Kings, MOFOS, Traffic Junky, etc., can't process payments through Visa or MasterCard.

Hopefully, they will switch to crypto to process payments. They already payout affiliates in Bitcoin.

[TheSenator]

"During this suspension, Visa cards will not be able to be used to purchase advertising on any sites including Pornhub or other MindGeek affiliated sites."

[CaptainHowdy]

[blackmonsters]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ioyv...liSekharNai k

[DVTimes]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...hild-porn.html

Visa slams the accusations that the company facilitated the spread of child pornography by continuing to grant payments to Pornhub, operated by MindGeek, following a judge refused Visa's request to be excused from a child porn lawsuit.

'Let me be clear: Visa condemns sex trafficking, sexual exploitation, and child sexual abuse,' Visa CEO Alfred F. Kelly, Jr, said in a Thursday statement. 'Our rules explicitly and unequivocally prohibit the use of our products to pay for content that depicts nonconsensual sexual behavior or child sexual abuse.'

Kelly's statement comes nearly a week after US District Judge Cormac Carney in California denied Visa's request to be dismissed from a case where 34 women who said that Pornhub had hosted videos of them being sexually assaulted or abused as minors without their consent.

The judge found that 'Visa knew that MindGeek's websites were teeming with monetized child porn.'

Kelly said that he 'strongly' disagrees with the judge's decision and is 'confident' in Visa's position. He further claimed that Visa 'suspended sites that contained user-generated content in December 2020.'

'Despite what you have read in recent days, you cannot use your Visa card on Pornhub,' Kelly said.

[DVTimes]

Visa suspends credit card payments for ads on Pornhub in wake of lawsuit

https://nypost.com/2022/08/04/visa-s...ke-of-lawsuit/

Visa has suspended payments for ads on Pornhub and its parent company MindGeek after the credit card giant was accused by a woman of facilitating the dissemination of child pornography on the website.

“We do not tolerate the use of our network for illegal activity,” Al Kelly, Visa’s CEO, said in a statement issued Thursday.

The statement comes a week after a federal judge in California denied Visa’s request to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Serena Fleites, who claims the payments processor helped Pornhub and MindGeek profit from illegal content.

“Let me be clear: Visa condemns sex trafficking, sexual exploitation, and child sexual abuse,” Kelly said. “It is illegal, and Visa does not permit the use of our network for illegal activity.”

“Our rules explicitly and unequivocally prohibit the use of our products to pay for content that depicts nonconsensual sexual behavior or child sexual abuse,” the statement concluded.

A spokesperson for MindGeek told The Post earlier this week that Pornhub has banned child pornography as well as any material that depicts sexual abuse of children.

[trevesty]

Originally Posted by TheSenator

Brazzers, Reality Kings, MOFOS, Traffic Junky, etc., can't process payments through Visa or MasterCard.

Hopefully, they will switch to crypto to process payments. They already payout affiliates in Bitcoin.

Read the whole post. The pay sites aren't affected by this.

[jscott]

TJ is affected, same company, so there's a good chance the paysites could be targeted next.

[pornguy]

Originally Posted by jscott

TJ is affected, same company, so there's a good chance the paysites could be targeted next.

They most likely will and that is the big time bad news for the industry.

[Brent 3dSexCash]

Originally Posted by pornguy

They most likely will and that is the big time bad news for the industry.

Yeah, it really depends on how deep they go with it. Visa and Mastercard are doing the bare minimum to appease the mob. I don't believe for a second that haven't known about MindGeeks "network" of sites and how it works from the start.

If they go after their separate pay sites they are essentially dead. Crypto can work for payments but it will kill their revenue continuing to make them a shell of their form selves. Without the reoccurring billing model they are fucked.

I am worried about the trickle down effect with companies like Paypal that have embraced adult to some degree via some third party processors. Paypal very well may say "Screw it" " not worth it" and stop entirely.

[Brent 3dSexCash]

If Visa/Mastercard go after their paysites using the same argument they are essentially dead.

Porn Hub cant make money other than crypto.

Traffic Junky cant make money selling ads on Pornhub.

Who is going to want to advertise on Pornhub and potentially get caught up with this? For example, if I was Streamate, or a cam platform, you have to think long and hard about being associated with them.. Any site advertising on Pornhub (even a non related MindGeek site) is at risk of being associated with profiting from their actions.

[pornguy]

Originally Posted by Brent 3dSexCash

Yeah, it really depends on how deep they go with it. Visa and Mastercard are doing the bare minimum to appease the mob. I don't believe for a second that haven't known about MindGeeks "network" of sites and how it works from the start.

If they go after their separate pay sites they are essentially dead. Crypto can work for payments but it will kill their revenue continuing to make them a shell of their form selves. Without the reoccurring billing model they are fucked.

I am worried about the trickle down effect with companies like Paypal that have embraced adult to some degree via some third party processors. Paypal very well may say "Screw it" " not worth it" and stop entirely.

I expect Paypal to back out next. They have done it before. Sadly when they did they held everyones money for 3 to 6 months.

[jscott]

Originally Posted by pornguy

They most likely will and that is the big time bad news for the industry.

Yup, this is a problem crypto/Bitcoin solves, it works perfectly for Chaturbate/Onlyfans type sites, but maybe not too great (yet) for recurring member sites, this could be the thing that pushes adult into adopting crypto/Bitcoin for payments, that's probably why the bigger sites already started to implement it.

I'm not yet sure what can be used with BTC & Lightning Network to get recurring payments, I think it would need a monthly email confirmation to the customer to submit payment manually, not the best choice, but it would be an option that could keep many adult companies afloat.

[SpicyM]

Originally Posted by jscott

Yup, this is a problem crypto/Bitcoin solves, it works perfectly for Chaturbate/Onlyfans type sites...

... and for criminals. The ideal payment type for thieves and scumbags.

[jscott]

Originally Posted by SpicyM

... and for criminals. The ideal payment type for thieves and scumbags.

^^ this guy doesn't even know that Bitcoin is a public ledger But goes to show how early it for the technology.

Criminals who use it get caught. Cash is for criminals, mostly untraceable. You should use more than headlines to learn about Bitcoin

Don't have to believe me, you can check the data:

Source Bitcoin (0.5-2%, or $10-$20b):
https://blog.chainalysis.com/reports...arknet-markets

Source fiat (2-5%, or $800-2,000b) (United Nations office on Drugs and Crime):
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/money...20US%20dollars

2-5% of dollars are laundered compared to 0.5-2% of crypto. Which makes total sense because public ledgers are easily traceable.

[mainstreammix]

God damn you guys can be insufferably stupid. Cheering on nonsense without a second thought about the secondary effects it will have, how dumb and ineffective the move is, etc.

Still trying to stuff that free vid genie back into your ancient bottle.

[SpicyM]

Originally Posted by jscott

^^ this guy doesn't even know that Bitcoin is a public ledger But goes to show how early it for the technology.

Criminals who use it get caught. Cash is for criminals, mostly untraceable. You should use more than headlines to learn about Bitcoin

Don't have to believe me, you can check the data:

Source Bitcoin (0.5-2%, or $10-$20b):
https://blog.chainalysis.com/reports...arknet-markets

Source fiat (2-5%, or $800-2,000b) (United Nations office on Drugs and Crime):
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/money...20US%20dollars

2-5% of dollars are laundered compared to 0.5-2% of crypto. Which makes total sense because public ledgers are easily traceable.

eat shit

I can imagine the whole FBI investigating a thief who paid $20 with crypto currencies to join a porn paysite for the purpose of ripping it's content and using it on his own piracy site, you dumbass.

Any form of anonymous payment method = a tool for criminals

[jscott]

Originally Posted by SpicyM

eat shit

I can imagine the whole FBI investigating a thief who paid $20 with crypto currencies to join a porn paysite for the purpose of ripping it's content and using it on his own piracy site, you dumbass.

Any form of anonymous payment method = a tool for criminals

You can counter with your data if you want, but facts are facts.

And everyone knows most blockchains are not anonymous, not sure where you got that idea, are you talking about Monero or Zcash specifically? If so then you would make sense, but to say that about crypto/Bitcoin is just ill informed

[stickyfingerz]

Originally Posted by SpicyM

eat shit

I can imagine the whole FBI investigating a thief who paid $20 with crypto currencies to join a porn paysite for the purpose of ripping it's content and using it on his own piracy site, you dumbass.

Any form of anonymous payment method = a tool for criminals

I've only read two threads on here in the last few months, you have been in both of them, and just spewing nonsense with each reply. lol

[mainstreammix]

Originally Posted by jscott

You can counter with your data if you want, but facts are facts.

And everyone knows most blockchains are not anonymous, not sure where you got that idea, are you talking about Monero or Zcash specifically? If so then you would make sense, but to say that about crypto/Bitcoin is just ill informed

Saying a blockchain isn't anonymous is one of the dumbest takes on crypto.

Send me $10,000 in BTC. I'll drop it in a casino, cash it out to another casino then send it to my paper wallet and your ass couldn't find a single shit out about me. Crypto isn't anonymous if you are a flaming fucking moron, for everyone else there's common sense.

[Brent 3dSexCash]

Originally Posted by jscott

Yup, this is a problem crypto/Bitcoin solves, it works perfectly for Chaturbate/Onlyfans type sites, but maybe not too great (yet) for recurring member sites, this could be the thing that pushes adult into adopting crypto/Bitcoin for payments, that's probably why the bigger sites already started to implement it.

I'm not yet sure what can be used with BTC & Lightning Network to get recurring payments, I think it would need a monthly email confirmation to the customer to submit payment manually, not the best choice, but it would be an option that could keep many adult companies afloat.

The adult business model for many is more or less drunk people signing up and forgetting they are paying 19.95 a month. Pay sites will likely lose 90 percent of their business if VISA and Mastercard got out of adult.

There is no way to get reoccurring revenue payments from crypto. It is specifically designed so that cant happen. Good luck with retention when you have to send a reminder email every month.

Even Cam sites that rely more on a more "pay as you go" model will be absolutely destroyed if this happened.

I think perhaps the biggest reason they wont pull out of adult is I dont think Visa and Mastercard want to be in the business of being a monopoly, while at the same time ,telling adults what they can and cant buy when it is perfectly legal for their customers.

Also, how could you tell adult webmasters they cant use VISA or Mastercard but game platforms like powerhouse Steam it is perfectly fine to sell adult games?

[jscott]

Originally Posted by Brent 3dSexCash

The adult business model for many is more or less drunk people signing up and forgetting they are paying 19.95 a month. Pay sites will likely lose 90 percent of their business if VISA and Mastercard got out of adult.

There is no way to get reoccurring revenue payments from crypto. It is specifically designed so that cant happen. Good luck with retention when you have to send a reminder email every month.

Even Cam sites that rely more on a more "pay as you go" model will be absolutely destroyed if this happened.

I think perhaps the biggest reason they wont pull out of adult is I dont think Visa and Mastercard want to be in the business of being a monopoly, while at the same time ,telling adults what they can and cant buy when it is perfectly legal for their customers.

Also, how could you tell adult webmasters they cant use VISA or Mastercard but game platforms like powerhouse Steam it is perfectly fine to sell adult games?

Right, we all know that a huge % of our recurring transactions are users who don't even realize they're paying every month. In fairness, a reminder to keep them paying, although shitty for us, is much more fair to the customer

I know that'd be an unpopular opinion, but I believe it as true.

Originally Posted by stickyfingerz

I've only read two threads on here in the last few months, you have been in both of them, and just spewing nonsense with each reply. lol

He & his fake nick are clearly upset about something, not sure why, I lol'd at him for not knowing some basic facts about blockchains, something that he, being a critic and all, should know already.

[SAMANTAmax]

PirhHub, Mindgeek who's next

[trevesty]

Originally Posted by jscott

TJ is affected, same company, so there's a good chance the paysites could be targeted next.

It isn't the same company, though. Not technically. There also isn't a "good chance" because there's no ground to do so, and doubt any judge will order it.

[DVTimes]

Investor Bill Ackman Targets Discover

https://twitter.com/BillAckman/statu...56290074677249

I just learned that @discovercard is still providing payment services to MindGeek despite @Visa and @Mastercard’s suspension. This needs to stop now!

[CrazyMartin]

Let them blame themselves! They wanted to enter elegant salons with dirty boots of pornography. They funded movies, mainstream events. They used marketing as in normal enterprises. Pigs Don't Fly Straight, especially in this business !!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPfMyFCcDbg

[Retiree]

Digital Dollar will put both VISA and MASTERCARD out of business, they won't be needed anymore.

[Kaos_internet]

Couldn't happen to nicer people. Tabarnak.

[RycEric]

Originally Posted by Kaos_internet

Couldn't happen to nicer people. Tabarnak.

Agreed. Fuck them.

[pornmasta]

Leftist judges

[brassmonkey]

Originally Posted by Retiree

Digital Dollar will put both VISA and MASTERCARD out of business, they won't be needed anymore.

Is a digital dollar coming?
A LONG ROAD AHEAD. Considering the technological trends and the wider financial and political developments around digital currencies, a digital USD is likely to be implemented. However, as the Federal Reserve is still assessing the implications of a CBDC, the creation of a digital dollar is still years away.Apr 19, 2022

[CurrentlySober]

Originally Posted by SpicyM

eat shit

Can I have some please?

[jscott]

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

Is a digital dollar coming?
A LONG ROAD AHEAD. Considering the technological trends and the wider financial and political developments around digital currencies, a digital USD is likely to be implemented. However, as the Federal Reserve is still assessing the implications of a CBDC, the creation of a digital dollar is still years away.Apr 19, 2022

If people allow CBDC's, this is what will come:

[AmeliaG]

Originally Posted by jscott

If people allow CBDC's, this is what will come:

What are those anti Central Bank Digital Currency posters from?

[jscott]

Originally Posted by AmeliaG

What are those anti Central Bank Digital Currency posters from?

They're aren't anti CBDC posters, they are showing truth of whats to come. Govs want to do this right now but are restricted because they don't have full control with fiat tradfi, with CBDC's they'll have 100% absolute control.

[MobileVRXXX]

Originally Posted by SpicyM

... and for criminals. The ideal payment type for thieves and scumbags.

Hahahahaha.

This is like saying the $ is the perfect tool for criminals because 80% of all human trafficking and drug lords deal with $.

[jscott]

Originally Posted by MobileVRXXX

Hahahahaha.

This is like saying the $ is the perfect tool for criminals because 80% of all human trafficking and drug lords deal with $.

Right! That guy has some backwards theories (lies) based on hatred for it, and he lacks knowledge. So opinionated with zero knowledge. Hope he can go study it for a few hours and come back and bring us some real discussion points

[romeo22]

Another big hit in the business

[Kaos_internet]

Originally Posted by jscott

Right! That guy has some backwards theories (lies) based on hatred for it, and he lacks knowledge. So opinionated with zero knowledge. Hope he can go study it for a few hours and come back and bring us some real discussion points

Saw you on the news

thepeterboroughexaminer .com/news/peterborough-region/2022/08/13/romana-didulo-supporters-attempt-to-arrest-peterborough-police.html[/url]

[AmeliaG]

Originally Posted by jscott

They're aren't anti CBDC posters, they are showing truth of whats to come. Govs want to do this right now but are restricted because they don't have full control with fiat tradfi, with CBDC's they'll have 100% absolute control.

I'm not debating the accuracy, just curious about source. Do they not read as against CBDC to you?

[jscott]

Originally Posted by AmeliaG

I'm not debating the accuracy, just curious about source. Do they not read as against CBDC to you?

Sorry I don't know the source, stumbled across them a few months ago, if I learn of the source I'll let you know