My verdict – Please read or listen. I recommend it because it shows the power of one committed individual to create positive change. Be warned that it is graphic and descriptive when needed, which wakes you up to some of the horrifying realities of the anonymous internet. You will also learn about the crimes committed by the people behind Pornhub and understand a lot more about how cyber crime is difficult to detect and punish.
Youtube is my go-to site when I want to take a break. It has been so for a while, and the Youtube algorithm has figured me out. I want to click through every video and short presented to me. Youtube has also figured out that I am curious about new authors and different perspectives.
A short video introduced me to Laila Mickelwait who had written a book on the Takedown of Pornhub. I knew of Pornhub as the world's largest porn site but I was shocked to learn that it was responsible for child abuse, rape, and sex trafficking. Laila came across as a passionate, and committed activist, and I thought the audio version would be great for my daily commute.
All through the book, I was inspired by Laila's ability to stay committed to her cause in spite of everything she faced, including serious threats of physical harm to her family and herself. To me, it was a reminder to be fearless, which itself was sufficient to get my recommendation.
While the tagline does hint at it being one woman's struggle, it was great to see Laila give credit to multiple people along the way who were instrumental in the takedown of Pornhub.
From the outset, Laila is clear that her book is not a commentary on legal pornography — consenting adults are free to do whatever they wish with their lives — but about the crimes that were being abetted by Pornhub. Claiming to be a legal operation, Pornhub was complicit in a variety of crimes which was directly ruining the lives of many people including children. I was shocked to learn about the different ways in which Pornhub was directly and indirectly encouraging illegal activities in the name of increasing engagement, and of course profits for the owners.
Laila gives many instances where in spite of her great discomfort with the stuff she was seeing, she made the effort to meticulously document everything, which later was presented as evidence of wrongdoing by Pornhub on multiple occasions.
Laila's role in getting Nicolas Kristoff to write a damning opinion piece, and then working with Billionaire Bill Ackman to get behind this issue are great examples of how luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. These collaborations are also a testament to Laila's ability to engage powerful allies in service of her cause.
What Pornhub stood for is beyond horrifying! It's also a story of corporate greed triumphing over basic human decency, and how technology is also making life incredibly difficult for victims while allowing perpetrators to hide behind anonymity. In this end, this is a solid reminder of Good does win over evil — Laila, and her allies managed to takedown Pornhub, at least for now.
We all need to make time to fight the good fights or at least support the ones who are doing it. There are a lot of issues facing the world, and in most cases, a lot of powerful people stand to benefit by maintaining the status quo. In these times, we need to remember that there are also many ordinary people out there who are brave enough to stand up for what is right.