EU Investigates Adult Sites Over Lax Age Verification Practices

The European Commission has launched an investigation targeting four major adult websites—Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos—over allegations of insufficient protections preventing minors from accessing explicit content. This move comes under the enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to enhance online safety throughout the European Union.

The DSA, effective since 2022, requires platforms to implement effective measures, especially age verification, to shield children from harmful adult material online. The Commission claims these websites have failed to apply adequate tools to block minors from inappropriate content.

Henna Virkkunen, the EU’s executive vice president for tech sovereignty and digital democracy, stressed that safeguarding children online is a top priority. She noted that digital services must provide safe spaces for minors to explore and connect without encountering explicit risks.

The European Commission emphasized that online platforms need to embed the rights and best interests of children into their design and operational framework. It requires “appropriate and proportionate measures” to protect young users from harmful content exposure effectively.

In December 2023, the EU added Pornhub, Stripchat, and XVideos to its list of “very large online platforms” (VLOPs). This classification subjects them to tougher standards related to transparency, content moderation, and user safety, including stringent age verification.

Stripchat has recently been removed from the VLOP list due to a drop in its average monthly active users in the EU below the required threshold. Despite this change, it remains obligated to maintain a high level of child protection under the DSA.

The Commission disclosed plans to introduce an age-verification app this summer, designed to allow individuals to prove they are over 18 without revealing additional personal information. This initiative aims to balance user privacy with strict compliance in child safety enforcement.

CNN has reached out to all four platforms involved in the investigation for their response. As of now, no public comments have been made, leaving the industry’s reaction to the EU’s probe uncertain.