EU Targets Adult Platforms for Weak Age Checks, Citing Child Safety Risks

The European Commission has initiated a formal investigation into four prominent adult websites—Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos—citing insufficient measures to prevent minors from accessing explicit content. These platforms are accused of breaching the Digital Services Act (DSA), a law that mandates online safety, particularly for children, across the European Union.

A core requirement of the DSA is effective age verification, which these platforms allegedly lack. The Commission stated that without such systems, children remain vulnerable to content that is clearly not age-appropriate and potentially harmful to their development.

Henna Virkkunen, the EU’s executive vice president for technology and digital rights, emphasized that ensuring the safety of children online remains a top priority. She stressed the need for platforms to offer environments that allow minors to explore the internet safely and responsibly.

The Commission further stated that online services must integrate children’s rights and interests into the structure and functioning of their platforms. It warned that failure to implement “appropriate and proportionate” child protection measures could lead to regulatory action and penalties under the DSA.

CNN reached out to the four implicated websites to obtain their responses, but none have commented publicly yet. The lack of immediate replies leaves their stance and next steps in addressing the EU’s concerns uncertain for now.

In December 2023, Pornhub, Stripchat, and XVideos were labeled “very large online platforms” (VLOPs) by the EU. This classification brings enhanced legal obligations, including stricter transparency, moderation requirements, and advanced safety tools such as age verification.

Despite its initial inclusion, Stripchat was recently removed from the VLOP list after it was determined that its average monthly user base in the EU falls below the required threshold. Nonetheless, it still must adhere to all protective standards set forth by the DSA.

To strengthen age control online, the EU is developing a verification app that will launch in the summer. This tool will allow individuals to prove they are over 18 without compromising their personal privacy, ensuring both security and data protection in accessing adult content platforms.