Q&A: ‘Takedown’, a critical book for parents & policy makers about the dangers lurking online & how to stop them 

Laila Mickelwait is the founder and CEO of the Justice Defense Fund and has been working to combat human trafficking and exploitation for nearly 20 years. 

She has been instrumental in the fight over the last five years to hold Pornhub accountable for its role in online child exploitation and urging governments to implement policies to close the gaps that allow this crime to flourish.

In 2021, following the publication of an article in the New York Times that put Pornhub and its parent company MindGeek in the spotlight, she testified before Canada’s Standing Committee on Information Privacy and Ethics as Canadian parliamentarians grappled with how to address the lack of action taken against a Canadian company that was consistently breaking the law. Following repeated calls from dozens of Members of Parliament, Senators and hundreds of advocates, the RCMP launched an investigation into the company. No findings of that investigation have been made public. 

In her book Takedown, Mickelwait details her extensive efforts to launch the worldwide petition, TraffickingHub, assist survivors and get the world’s largest porn site to finally take action after years of exploiting victims then revictimizing them, to increase profits. 

You include a lot of personal details in the book about your life, to help parents. 

Many parents may not be fully aware of the extent of dangers that exist on sites like Pornhub or the broader Internet. My book, "Takedown," aims to shed light on these severe risks by illustrating how platforms like Pornhub have exploited children for profit since 2007. I hope that through the book, parents will understand the urgency of protecting their children from online predators and the executives who would seek to monetize, globally distribute, and immortalize that abuse. It is crucial for parents, and anyone who cares about child safety, to be informed, vigilant, and proactive in demanding stronger laws and safeguards to protect children from online exploitation in all forms.

Pornhub’s alarming activities to attack its victims were exposed in Michael Bowe’s detailed lawsuit. Can you speak about the meeting you had with the FBI and their ongoing investigation?

Based on the mountains of evidence uncovered, much of which is detailed in my book, alongside the significant evidence brought forth in 25 victim lawsuits on behalf of thousands of victims, and their corresponding legal discovery processes, I firmly believe that Pornhub and its owners should be criminally prosecuted in multiple countries and I hope this book helps pressure those in power to prosecute. The New York FBI investigation has produced significant criminal charges against Pornhub and its parent company for knowingly profiting from the proceeds of the trafficking of over 100 victims of the Girls Do Porn sex trafficking operation in California. While that is a crucial step, it isn’t enough. I remain hopeful that justice will be fully served on behalf of all victims worldwide, and that this will set a precedent for prosecuting those who exploit vulnerable individuals for profit.

Laila Mickelwait, founder of the TraffickingHub campaign, testifies before Canada’s Standing Committee on Information Privacy and Ethics in 2021 after widespread allegations of exploitation and child sexual abuse material being monetized on Pornhub.

(ParlVu)

Despite findings about how MindGeek used its own system to keep illegal videos, evidence shared with the Canadian Parliamentary Committee investigating the company in 2021, no punitive action has been taken against MindGeek. 

Activists can continue to push for accountability by raising awareness, mobilizing public support, and demanding government action. This involves engaging with policymakers, supporting victims, and applying consistent pressure on authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible. Collaboration between activists, survivors, lawmakers and legal experts is essential to create a unified front that advocates for justice and systemic change. By amplifying the voices of those affected and highlighting the complicity of companies like Pornhub, we can drive the conversation forward and demand tangible action. I am planning to get a copy of the book into the hands of every Member of Parliament in Canada along with the justice minister in hopes that they will be motivated to take necessary action. 

More of The Pointer’s coverage of Pornhub

• ‘How do you sleep at night?’ Canadian Pornhub execs grilled by MPs over child exploitation

• The ‘largest repository of child pornography in North America’: More survivors testify against Pornhub

• Calls mount for RCMP criminal investigation of Pornhub’s Canadian executives

• RCMP won’t commit to criminal investigation of Pornhub  

• ‘What the hell is going on then?’: Pressure intensifying on RCMP to launch Pornhub investigation 

• Investigation into Pornhub offers opportunity to curb proliferation of ‘haunting’ online child sexual exploitation 

• ‘This is a case about rape, not pornography’: Pornhub nightmare exposes internet’s blindspot on child sexual exploitation

• Visa ‘provided the tool used to complete a crime’ in Pornhub child exploitation conspiracy, judge says in scathing ruling 

Published in July, Takedown details the efforts of Laila Mickelwait to hold Pornhub officials accountable for monetizing child sexual abuse material on the world’s largest porn site, after her own horrific experience.

(Penguin Random House Canada)

Was there ever a time during this fight that you felt the public wasn’t taking the issue seriously?

There were moments when it felt challenging to convey the urgency of the issue or breakthrough public apathy. However, the Traffickinghub movement resonated with so many because it revealed the horrific and shocking truth of the Pornhub crime scene and boldly called for severe consequences for severe harm done. The movement's success has been due to its ability to mobilize a global and diverse coalition, including victims, activists, organizations, journalists, lawyers, lawmakers, and the public, who recognize the need for accountability and change. By focusing on the human stories behind the statistics and emphasizing the real-life impact of criminal exploitation, Traffickinghub has connected with people on a personal level and galvanized them into action.

There seems to be a lack of political will and institutional awareness about the realities facing so many women online today.

Yes, the lack of political will is a significant barrier to enacting necessary policy changes. To address this, I believe we must continue to put a significant public spotlight on these injustices and loudly call out the inaction of those in positions of power. However, even when governments are too slow to act and adopt necessary policies, other means for change can be deployed. Change usually doesn’t come voluntarily, especially when profits are at stake; that is why empowering survivors to pursue lawsuits is a critical way that victims can force change by hitting these predatory companies where it hurts most: their bank accounts and demanding changes in the court of law. 

Are misconceptions about sex work and exploitation a barrier to change?

Misconceptions can indeed create challenges in advocacy. That is why I make it a point to emphasize that our efforts at the Justice Defense Fund and through the Traffickinghub movement are focused on combating illegal and non-consensual content, not infringing on legal adult pornography. Clear communication and education about the realities of online criminal exploitation and its impact on victims are essential. By doing this, we can foster productive conversations focused on safety and protection.

The solution of third party, age and consent verification on adult sites seems simple; why is there so much push back?

There isn’t any legitimate pushback regarding third party verification of the age and consent of those who are featured in user-generated pornographic videos, except from the Big Porn companies who would pay the price for that verification to protect victims from being exploited. Every caring individual with an ounce of common sense understands this to be a necessary regulation; it just needs to be enacted. The primary pushback is around age verification for viewers of porn sites which is a different matter entirely, although also very important. 

Where does the fight go from here?

The fight continues with a focus on advocating for criminal accountability, restitution for all victims, legislative reforms, corporate responsibility, and cultural change. We must push for mandatory age and consent verification policies and work toward creating a digital environment where criminal exploitation and abuse are not tolerated. Our efforts will also involve supporting survivors in their journey toward justice and healing. By maintaining pressure on websites and policymakers, we can strive to make the Internet a safer place for future generations.

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