Inside MindGeek: The Monopoly of PornHub and Its Controversies
How "Free" P*rn Sites Really Work (and Who Runs Them) 🔗
00:00 Introduction to MindGeek
The video delves into the workings of "free" porn sites, highlighting that PornHub is owned by MindGeek, a company that has established a monopoly over the global porn industry. MindGeek was formerly known as Manwin and has acquired several renowned adult brands, managing both pay and free sites.
01:30 Ownership and Financials
MindGeek's majority shareholder was initially unknown but was later identified as Bernd Bergmair, an Austrian living part-time in Hong Kong. The company is valued at billions, generating approximately half a billion dollars annually, significantly driven by PornHub's traffic and advertising strategies.
03:15 Content Moderation and Takedown
The video discusses a major content takedown where MindGeek removed around 10 million videos and 30 million images due to concerns over unverified content, including potential child exploitation. This action was motivated by a need to restore relationships with credit card companies.
05:00 Employee Experiences
Moderators faced extreme challenges in assessing content, often relying on guesswork to determine the legitimacy of videos. The mental toll of this work was highlighted through personal testimonies from former employees.
06:30 Legal Actions and Rebranding Efforts
The former owner of PornHub, Fabian Tillman, revealed the secret shareholders and encouraged legal action against credit card companies to cut ties with MindGeek. The company is currently facing lawsuits from hundreds of victims. Despite being sold to a new entity called Ethical Capital Partners, concerns persist regarding its management and ethical practices.
What is MindGeek's role in the porn industry?
MindGeek is a dominant player in the porn industry, owning multiple well-known adult sites and managing a significant portion of online adult content.
Why did MindGeek remove so much content from its sites?
MindGeek removed millions of videos to address concerns about unverified content and to regain the trust of credit card companies, which are crucial for processing payments.
Who is Bernd Bergmair?
Bernd Bergmair is the secret majority shareholder of MindGeek, identified as an Austrian businessman with a background in finance who played a key role in the company's operations and ownership structure.