EU cracks down on adult sites for failing to block minors
Four major adult content platforms—Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos—face potential fines after failing to protect minors from accessing their services. The European Commission's investigation found that none of these sites had properly assessed risks to under-18s or put effective safeguards in place. The case marks the latest enforcement action under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes stricter rules on large online platforms. The probe began in May 2022, running alongside broader EU efforts to tighten controls on smaller platforms. Regulators have long struggled to police user-generated sites hosting harmful or illegal material. Under the DSA, companies can face penalties of up to 6% of their global annual turnover for non-compliance.
The European Commission concluded that the four platforms had not taken sufficient steps to block underage users. Henna Virkkunen, the EU's tech chief, emphasised that online services must prevent minors from accessing adult content. Meanwhile, the EU is developing an EU-wide age-verification app to confirm users are over 18, while some member states explore social media bans for children.
Larger tech firms have already adjusted to the DSA's demands. Meta, Google, and others implemented risk assessments, transparency reports, and moderation tools by 2023. Meta added ad libraries and appeal systems in early 2024, while Google strengthened YouTube's recommender audits and illegal content removal by July 2024. So far, Brussels has issued just one fine under the DSA, but any penalty for the adult platforms could reach millions of dollars.
Aylo, the company behind Pornhub, reported over $450 million in revenue in 2022. The financial stakes are high, with potential fines dwarfing the single penalty imposed on a social media platform to date. The investigation highlights ongoing challenges in enforcing age restrictions on adult content sites. If found in breach, the platforms could face hefty fines and be forced to overhaul their safeguards. The EU's push for stricter enforcement continues as regulators seek to close gaps in online child protection.
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