Pornhub, Stripchat, and other adult platforms are under investigation by the EU for inadequate child safety measures, including ineffective age verification practices aimed at preventing minors from accessing adult material.
EU Launches Investigation into Pornhub and Other Adult Sites for Child Safety Violations
EU Launches Investigation into Pornhub and Other Adult Sites for Child Safety Violations
The European Commission is scrutinizing major adult websites for failing to protect minors from explicit content.
The European Commission has initiated an investigation into Pornhub, Stripchat, XVideos, and XNXX, citing concerns that these platforms are not adhering to EU online content regulations designed to protect children. Officials have indicated that the sites lack sufficient measures to safeguard minors, particularly in terms of age verification procedures.
The Commission stressed the importance of prioritizing the rights and interests of children in the design and operation of online services. They noted that the initial findings of the investigation revealed that these adult websites have not established "appropriate and proportionate measures" to ensure a high level of safety, privacy, and security for younger users.
Current mechanisms, such as user prompts that ask visitors if they are over 18, are being considered inadequate for preventing underage access to adult content. The report also highlights that the platforms have failed to conduct risk assessments or implement methods to mitigate negative impacts on minors' mental and physical well-being.
These revelations come amid a global push from regulators to tighten oversight of online pornography, particularly regarding age verification. In the UK, Ofcom is investigating adult sites that do not employ effective age-checking methods.
Notably, Pornhub is a highly trafficked website globally, frequently ranking as the most visited in its category. However, it faces increasing regulatory pressure. Recently, it has restricted access in 16 US states that imposed strict age verification laws. In response to these requirements, Pornhub suggested that age verification should occur on users' devices rather than on the sites themselves, which they claim could enhance privacy and simplify compliance for regulators.
The platforms identified in the EU inquiry are categorized as very large online platforms (VLOPs) under the Digital Services Act (DSA) of 2023, which imposes stringent obligations on large digital entities to combat harmful content. If the investigation confirms any violations, the platforms could face enforcement actions or fines reaching up to 6% of their annual revenue.
While the Commission plans to continue its investigation into these platforms, it has indicated that Stripchat will no longer hold its VLOP status but will still be reviewed for potential regulatory violations. Moreover, efforts will be made to ensure that smaller adult platforms, which do not meet the user threshold of 45 million in the EU, also comply with necessary child protection regulations.
Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen emphasized the priority of ensuring the safety of minors as they navigate online spaces, expressing the commitment to work collaboratively with member states to address any potential harm to young users.
