Canada’s privacy commissioner is taking legal action to ensure that Aylo Holdings, the Montreal-based operator of Pornhub and other adult websites, complies with the country’s privacy laws regarding the sharing of intimate content.
On Monday, Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne announced that he is seeking a Federal Court order to compel Aylo Holdings to obtain proper consent from individuals whose images appear on its platforms. This action follows a previous investigation that found the company violated privacy laws by allowing the upload of explicit content without the direct consent of those depicted.
Repeated Privacy Concerns Over Aylo Holdings
Dufresne’s latest move marks the second time within a year that concerns have been raised about Aylo’s handling of intimate images. In February 2024, an investigation by the privacy commissioner concluded that Aylo had failed to ensure that all individuals featured in explicit content had given their consent.
“To date, Aylo has not adequately addressed the significant concerns identified in my investigation,” Dufresne said in a statement. “Privacy is a fundamental right, and individuals must be protected.”
Aylo’s Response: Disagreement and Surprise
In response, Aylo Holdings strongly disagreed with the privacy commissioner’s assertions, stating that it does not believe it has violated Canadian privacy laws.
“We have been in productive discussions with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) since last year regarding a compliance agreement,” said Alex Kekesi, Aylo’s vice president for brand and community. “We are disappointed and surprised by this legal action, and we will respond accordingly.”
The Case That Sparked the Investigation
The investigation was initiated after a woman discovered that her ex-boyfriend had uploaded intimate videos and images of her on Aylo-operated websites without her consent. This case raised broader concerns about the company’s ability to prevent the sharing of non-consensual content.
Steps Taken by Aylo to Address the Issue
Aylo has defended its content moderation practices, arguing that it has significantly improved its safeguards since the incident in question, which reportedly occurred in 2015. According to Kekesi, the company has implemented several measures to prevent the uploading and distribution of non-consensual content, including:
- Mandatory verification of content uploaders
- Proof of consent and identity verification for all participants in uploaded content
- A ban on downloading videos from the platform
- Expanding moderation efforts and workforce
“These are major steps forward in identifying, removing, and reporting harmful and illegal content,” Kekesi said.
A Growing Focus on Privacy and Online Safety
The Canadian government’s crackdown on Aylo aligns with global efforts to hold adult content platforms accountable for privacy violations and non-consensual content. Other countries have also been pushing for stricter regulations to ensure that explicit content shared online is done so with the full knowledge and agreement of those involved.
With a Federal Court order now in play, Aylo Holdings may be forced to take further action or face legal consequences. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how online adult platforms operate in Canada and beyond.
