The European Commission has initiated an investigation targeting Pornhub, Stripchat, XVideos, and XNXX, citing inadequate child safety measures, especially regarding age verification. The companies face scrutiny under the EU’s Digital Services Act, which emphasizes the protection of minors online.
EU Investigates Major Porn Sites for Child Safety Violations
EU Investigates Major Porn Sites for Child Safety Violations
The EU launches a probe into Pornhub and other major porn sites over concerns regarding age verification and child safety measures.
The European Commission has launched an investigation into Pornhub, Stripchat, and two other significant pornography websites, expressing concerns that they may be violating EU online content regulations aimed at protecting children. The inquiry indicates these sites, which also include XVideos and XNXX, lack sufficient measures to safeguard minors and their rights, notably in terms of age verification mechanisms designed to inhibit children's access to adult content.
"Online platforms must ensure that the rights and best interests of children are central to the design and functioning of their services," the Commission stated, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing minors’ safety in online environments.
Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, acknowledged the investigation and expressed its dedication to protecting minors online. "We will always comply with the law, but we hope that governments globally will implement measures that enhance user safety and security," the company remarked.
The Commission’s preliminary findings suggest that these platforms have not implemented adequate privacy, safety, and security measures tailored to protect children. It criticized the prevalent "click away" pop-ups that simply ask whether users are over 18 as ineffective in truly verifying age. Furthermore, the platforms failed to establish robust risk assessment and mitigation strategies that consider potential negative impacts on the rights and well-being of young users.
This probe occurs alongside increased scrutiny on adult content websites by regulators worldwide, with many agencies pushing for more stringent age verification requirements. For instance, the UK's Ofcom recently launched investigations into pornography sites lacking age verification processes.
As the leading porn site globally and the 19th most visited website on the internet, Pornhub finds itself confronting escalating regulatory pressures. The site has already taken action to block access in 16 US states that have mandated user age verification. Pornhub advocates for age verification to occur on user devices to simplify compliance for regulators while boosting user privacy.
The companies currently under investigation are classified as very large online platforms (VLOPs) as per the EU's Digital Services Act, which was implemented in 2023. Should the investigation confirm violations, these platforms may face stringent enforcement actions or potentially hefty fines of up to 6% of their annual revenue. Notably, Stripchat has lost VLOP designation but remains under investigation for suspected non-compliance with digital content regulations.
The EU emphasizes the need for coordinated action among member states to reinforce requirements for smaller pornographic websites as well. "Our priority is to protect minors and allow them to navigate safely online," asserted Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security, and democracy, reaffirming the commitment to safeguarding young users in the online landscape.
