EU Moves Against Pornhub, Others for Failing to Keep Minors Out—Big Crackdown on Adult Sites

The European Commission has launched a formal investigation into four popular adult content websites, Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos, over concerns that they are failing to protect minors from accessing explicit content online.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commission said these platforms have not put in place effective age verification systems as required by the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), a law that came into effect in 2022 to regulate how digital platforms operate within the bloc.

“Online platforms must ensure that the rights and best interests of children are central to the design and functioning of their services,” the Commission emphasized, stressing the need for “appropriate and proportionate measures” to safeguard minors.

While the Commission did not provide exact technical details of each platform’s shortcomings, it accused them of exposing children to potentially harmful content due to poor age verification tools. CNN reports that efforts have been made to contact the platforms in question for comment.

Henna Virkkunen, the EU’s executive vice president for tech sovereignty, security, and democracy, reinforced the bloc’s stance on child safety online. “The online space should be a safe environment for children to learn and connect. Our priority is to protect minors and allow them to navigate safely online,” she said.

The action follows a December 2023 move by the EU to classify Pornhub, Stripchat, and XVideos as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs), a status under the DSA that comes with stricter regulations regarding content moderation, transparency, and user protection. XNXX was already under similar scrutiny.

Interestingly, the Commission revealed that Stripchat has since fallen below the required threshold of monthly active users to remain classified as a VLOP. However, officials stressed that the platform is still bound by the DSA’s obligations, including those related to safeguarding minors.

As part of a broader solution, the EU is also developing an age-verification app, expected to roll out by summer. The tool will allow users to prove they are over 18 without disclosing other personal information online.

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