Mastercard, Visa Cut Off Pornhub Following Charges Of Illegal Content

The company has directed the third-party financial institutions that connect Pornhub to the Mastercard network to no longer complete transactions between the two entities starting today.

“Our investigation over the past several days has confirmed violations of our standards prohibiting unlawful content on their site,” Mastercard told Forbes in a statement, adding the company will continue to investigate the content on other sites it has ties to.

Earlier this week, both Mastercard and Visa announced they were launching independent investigations into Pornhub after the New York Times published a searing column alleging the adult entertainment giant hosts illegal content including revenge porn, and videos of sexual assault and child abuse.

Visa is still looking into the allegations, the company told Forbes, Thursday, but said for the time being it, too, was suspending use of its cards on Pornhub until the investigation is complete.

American Express had already blacklisted the website, as well as Paypal — without Visa and Mastercard, Pornhub is facing a severe disruption to its sales.

Pornhub’s website appears to have not yet been updated—on Thursday afternoon, it still stated it accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover and JCB as forms of payment.