Takedown

Inside the Fight to Shut Down Pornhub for Child Abuse, Rape, and Sex Trafficking

By: Laila Mickelwait

Narrated by: Laila Mickelwait

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

The gripping true story of one woman’s battle to expose and shut down a criminal online porn empire.

Pornhub was the 10th most visited site on the Internet, often praised as a progressive champion of women. Then one day, an activist discovered a secret they had been keeping from the world for over a decade: it was infested with child sexual abuse and rape videos.

Now for the first time, anti-trafficking expert and mother of two Laila Mickelwait tells the story of her battle against Pornhub’s billionaire executives and the credit card companies who helped them monetize the abuse of countless victims—some as young as three years old. Listeners will follow her from her first horrifying discovery of criminal content on Pornhub to closed-door meetings with credit card executives, White House and Justice Department senior officials, a powerful hedge-fund manager and more. Through insider accounts from Pornhub moderators and executives, you’ll meet the world’s first online porn tycoon, AKA “the Zuckerberg of porn,” along with Pornhub’s top brass (known internally as “The Bro Club”) who operate in secrecy.

The culmination of years of activism, Takedown is the true, never before told story of how Mickelwait mobilized a movement of two million people and together they accomplished "the biggest takedown of content in Internet history." (Financial Times)

©2024 Laila Mickelwait (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“The sinister Pornhub porn barons have met their match in Laila Mickelwait. This impassioned book gives eye-popping insights into the darkest corners of the internet and offers hope for the future.”—Edward Lucas, author, investigative journalist, former senior editor at The Economist

“In Takedown, Mickelwait gives us what every generation desperately needs: an honest, human story of how we can live our lives with a love that does not look away and a hope that does not give in. I could not put this book down.”—Gary Haugen, CEO and founder of International Justice Mission, author of Locust Effect

“Takedown is the thrilling and inspirational tale of Laila Mickelwait’s relentless leadership of the campaign against the dark empire of Pornhub. This story of triumph is a must-read for anyone who wants to make a difference.”—Gerald Posner, attorney, Pulitzer finalist, and author of Case Closed and God’s Bankers

Captivating story, excellent narrative

Fascinating retelling of one person’s impact in holding a major porn website accountable for illegal content. I was familiar with the news stories about the situation but the book gives a much richer insight to the arduous process. A worthwhile read for anyone interested in human trafficking.

Riveting

These bums never anticipated running into one woman of substance. What a testimony of resilience of a modern day Esther. Bravo!

Eye-opening

If you haven’t been aware of trafficking before you will definitely be shocked to read this book. And even though you know about it this book will make your jaw drop.

The author has gone through so much research and been in contact with so many people it’s unbelievable the hard work she has put into this book and the course she is fighting for.

Even though I’ve been a true crime reader for many years and have heard a lot of absolutely horrific cases I have to admit the information in this book was very shocking.

It’s a very well written piece however it will leave you uncomfortable every now and then. From time to time I felt nauseous and very uncomfortable.

If you’re faint of heart this book will not be for you.

* This review has been published on multiple platforms

Fantastic! Tough but necessary to know…

How great it is that people like this author and others that she mentioned are doing so much good in the world. Let’s all do our part! Bravo!!

You Will Not Forget You Read This Book

Investigating a child trafficking incident Mickelwait stumbles upon a child rape pornography crime syndicate. It is sitting there in plain sight and propped up in financing by reputable banks, Visa, Mastercard, and a prominent university. The owners live in affluent neighborhoods. Their families prosper from child rape videos being sold all over the world. Their employees are at the gym, the coffee shop, and parent-teacher conferences. As Mickelwait investigates the "White Collar" community that profits from this misery, the crime syndicate becomes ruthless. Computer hacking, Death threats, Bank accounts vanish as her extended family is targeted, and the hiring of a "reputable public relations firm" places her life and the lives of her family and children in danger. The "reputable attorneys" they hire, rewarded from the proceeds of child rape and white-collar slavery, become ruthless. This crime syndicate and the tribe that profits from misery, has spread all over the world. Media outlets are paid to print slander to destroy her reputation and ruin her life. The story is a thriller. The shocking reality is that so many "fine outstanding professionals" have a sadistic disregard for the tortured victims when it comes to collecting a paycheck. The company profits from the mentally disturbed with voyeurism disorders and sadism disorders. The child rape industry is a highly profitable part of the commercial sex industry. Your average citizen isn't aware of their wealthy neighbors and professional friends next door who profit from this misery and the criminal societies that pass for the "entertainment industry". Mickelwait is a genius in her moves to bring justice into this underbelly of existence. This is not a book you can forget you read..

Informative

Well written and exciting, devastating with a call to action to fight for your own cause.

Great book

Liked this read a lot. Good overview on what goes on behind the scenes in this sketchy industry.

Laila is the William Wilberforce of our generation!

Standing ovation to Laila, the survivors, and JDF for bringing Porn Hub to its knees! This is a gripping read.

There’s a special place in hell for Pornhub execs

This book is hard, so hard to listen to. I cried tears of joy, despair, frustration, and rage when listening. The crimes the sleazeballs at Pornhub have committed are among the most atrocious in history. These disgusting scumbags, and everyone who enables and supports the online dissemination of child sexual abuse, deserve life in prison, and worse. These people are pure evil.

Laila, I’ve followed you for years. The work you are doing is so, so important. Thank you for your continued dedication to end this evil. May this book shake the world and topple the abuse in the porn industry forever!

Epic, impassioned and Inspiring

What a tale! And what accomplishments! A fascinating look at what happens when a moral crusader takes aim at the dark underbelly of modern capitalism.