Pornhub and other adult websites under EU investigation over lack of child safety measures

The European Commission has initiated an investigation into four prominent adult websites, alleging that they fall short of regulations designed to protect minors from accessing adult content. The platforms under scrutiny include Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos, which are accused of inadequate measures to prevent children from viewing explicit material. This inquiry is rooted in the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), enacted in 2022, mandating that all platforms operating within the EU prioritize the safety of younger users. The Commission emphasized that 'online platforms must ensure that the rights and best interests of children are central to the design and functioning of their services,' insisting that they implement 'appropriate and proportionate measures' for online safety. The investigation points out that the sites in question lack effective age verification tools essential for restricting access to harmful content. In response to the ongoing concern for child safety, Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s executive vice president for tech sovereignty, security, and democracy, stated, 'The online space should be a safe environment for children to learn and connect.' In December 2023, the EU classified Pornhub, Stripchat, and XVideos as 'very large online platforms' (VLOPs), subjecting them to stricter standards concerning age verification, content moderation, and transparency. However, the Commission has announced that Stripchat will no longer hold this designation due to a decrease in its average monthly active users in the EU. Despite this change, the site is still required to maintain high standards of protection for minors. Furthermore, the EU is developing an age-verification app aimed at allowing users to verify their age without disclosing personal information, which is expected to be launched this summer.