The investigation reflects increasing global scrutiny of online adult content and highlights concerns over children's access to such material.
**EU Probes Major Porn Sites Over Child Safety Compliance**
**EU Probes Major Porn Sites Over Child Safety Compliance**
The European Commission targets Pornhub and three other adult websites for inadequate child protection measures.
The European Commission has initiated an investigation into Pornhub, Stripchat, and two additional pornographic platforms, XVideos and XNXX, for potentially violating EU laws designed to protect child safety online. Authorities express concerns that these sites lack effective measures to prevent minors from accessing adult content, particularly highlighting issues with their age verification processes.
The Commission stated that "online platforms must ensure that the rights and best interests of children are central to the design and functioning of their services." Initial findings from the investigation suggest these platforms have not implemented appropriate safeguards to protect minors, including the absence of stringent age verification tools. Current systems that prompt users to confirm their age with pop-up messages were criticized as insufficient.
In response, Pornhub's parent company, Aylo, acknowledged the investigation and emphasized a commitment to protecting minors while urging for broader government legislation to enhance user security. Similarly, the investigation aligns with a growing trend among global regulators aimed at enforcing tighter controls on online pornography without adequate age verification measures.
The Commission's findings also indicated that the studied platforms failed to conduct risk assessments regarding the effects of their content on children's rights and well-being. This scrutiny comes against the backdrop of recent actions by regulators, such as the UK's Ofcom, which has launched its own investigations into sites lacking effective age checks.
Recognized as one of the most visited adult sites worldwide, Pornhub faces mounting regulatory challenges and has previously restricted access in certain U.S. states due to legislative mandates requiring user age verification. The site's management advocates for age checks to be managed via users’ devices, which they believe would streamline the verification process while also enhancing user privacy.
Under the Digital Services Act (DSA) of 2023, the implicated companies are classified as very large online platforms (VLOPs), subject to stringent regulations regarding harmful online content. Should the investigation confirm any DSA violations, these platforms may face significant penalties, potentially up to 6% of their annual revenue.
While Stripchat will lose its VLOP status, its investigation for non-compliance will continue. The European Commission plans to ensure that smaller platforms adhere to child safety regulations as well, reinforcing its commitment to protecting minors online. Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's executive vice-president, reiterated the importance of safeguarding young internet users and emphasized coordinated action with member states for enforcement.
The Commission stated that "online platforms must ensure that the rights and best interests of children are central to the design and functioning of their services." Initial findings from the investigation suggest these platforms have not implemented appropriate safeguards to protect minors, including the absence of stringent age verification tools. Current systems that prompt users to confirm their age with pop-up messages were criticized as insufficient.
In response, Pornhub's parent company, Aylo, acknowledged the investigation and emphasized a commitment to protecting minors while urging for broader government legislation to enhance user security. Similarly, the investigation aligns with a growing trend among global regulators aimed at enforcing tighter controls on online pornography without adequate age verification measures.
The Commission's findings also indicated that the studied platforms failed to conduct risk assessments regarding the effects of their content on children's rights and well-being. This scrutiny comes against the backdrop of recent actions by regulators, such as the UK's Ofcom, which has launched its own investigations into sites lacking effective age checks.
Recognized as one of the most visited adult sites worldwide, Pornhub faces mounting regulatory challenges and has previously restricted access in certain U.S. states due to legislative mandates requiring user age verification. The site's management advocates for age checks to be managed via users’ devices, which they believe would streamline the verification process while also enhancing user privacy.
Under the Digital Services Act (DSA) of 2023, the implicated companies are classified as very large online platforms (VLOPs), subject to stringent regulations regarding harmful online content. Should the investigation confirm any DSA violations, these platforms may face significant penalties, potentially up to 6% of their annual revenue.
While Stripchat will lose its VLOP status, its investigation for non-compliance will continue. The European Commission plans to ensure that smaller platforms adhere to child safety regulations as well, reinforcing its commitment to protecting minors online. Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's executive vice-president, reiterated the importance of safeguarding young internet users and emphasized coordinated action with member states for enforcement.
