EU Investigates Porn Sites for Failing to Verify Users’ Ages Under Digital Services Act

In a move to tighten regulations around online adult content, the European Commission is currently investigating four major adult websites—Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos—accused of not adequately verifying the ages of their users. The investigation stems from concerns over the safety of minors accessing adult material and follows the launch of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to enforce stricter rules on large online platforms. These platforms are required to implement measures to protect minors, including proper age verification systems.

The European Commission, which drafts and enforces EU laws, began its probe after it requested information from Pornhub, Stripchat, and XVideos in June 2024 regarding how they safeguard minors. This investigation is part of the broader EU effort to improve online safety and privacy for children by ensuring that adult sites adhere to these critical regulations.

The Digital Services Act (DSA) came into effect in November 2022 and has stringent provisions regarding how very large online platforms (VLOPs)—sites with over 45 million users—should operate. 28 of the DSA mandates that these platforms ensure a high level of privacy and security for minors, while 35 specifically requires tools for age verification and protection against abuse.

What Undercode Says:

The European Commission’s investigation into adult sites like Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos is a reflection of the increasing demand for better regulation in the digital world. The DSA is not the first initiative that seeks to address the issue of online age verification; however, it marks a more comprehensive approach to protecting minors from adult content. The focus on VLOPs, which are platforms with a massive user base, highlights the growing concerns over how much control these platforms have over their user base, particularly minors.

Pornhub’s initial resistance to age verification in the US highlighted a key concern: privacy. The site argued that collecting personal information such as a driver’s license could expose users to privacy risks. This argument underscores a fundamental issue in the digital age—how to balance the safety of minors without violating privacy norms. Although Pornhub’s solution was to block access to its site in states with age verification laws, this ultimately affected the platform’s traffic, with Pornhub reporting an 80% decrease. This exemplifies the delicate balance that online platforms must strike between protecting privacy and ensuring that children are shielded from inappropriate content.

However, as the investigation continues, the consequences for non-compliance could be severe. The DSA imposes heavy fines on VLOPs that fail to follow regulations, with penalties reaching up to 6% of global annual revenue. This could put significant pressure on adult sites to implement the necessary changes to avoid financial losses. In addition, the European Commission has already removed Stripchat from the VLOP list, as it did not meet the required EU user thresholds, but this does not mean that smaller sites are exempt from scrutiny.

The ongoing investigation is likely to reshape the way adult websites operate in the EU, especially as national regulators begin coordinating efforts to monitor age verification measures. This could lead to a more standardized approach across the industry, ensuring that all platforms, regardless of size, take responsibility for safeguarding minors.

Fact Checker Results:

The European Commission’s investigation into Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos is valid and based on concerns over proper age verification.
Pornhub has expressed privacy concerns regarding age verification but blocked access in some US states instead of implementing checks.
The DSA stipulates significant penalties for non-compliance, reinforcing the importance of adhering to these regulations.

Prediction:

As the investigation continues and more guidelines are developed, we can expect stricter enforcement of age verification policies across the adult entertainment industry in the EU. With the implementation of the Digital Identity Wallet and age verification app by 2025, platforms will likely have more robust and privacy-conscious methods for verifying users’ ages. This could lead to a broader shift in how digital platforms manage user data and interact with regulators, ensuring that minors are better protected while maintaining user privacy.

References:

Reported By: www.malwarebytes.com
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