The investigation centers on inadequate age verification measures, potentially compromising children's access to adult content.
**EU Launches Investigation into Pornhub and Major Porn Sites Over Child Safety Concerns**
**EU Launches Investigation into Pornhub and Major Porn Sites Over Child Safety Concerns**
The European Commission is probing Pornhub, Stripchat, and additional sites for potential violations of child safety regulations.
The European Commission has initiated an investigation into Pornhub, Stripchat, XVideos, and XNXX, amid concerns that these major pornography websites may be failing to comply with EU online content regulations intended to protect children. The commission has raised alarms over what it deems insufficient measures to ensure children's rights and safety, particularly in regard to age verification practices.
It reported that the examined sites exhibit a lack of "appropriate" systems to prevent minors from accessing adult material. The EU underscored that online platforms should integrate children's rights and safety into their design and operational protocols. In response to the inquiry, Pornhub's parent company, Aylo, acknowledged the investigation and expressed its dedication to safeguarding minors online while compliance with legal mandates remains a priority.
The Commission's preliminary findings suggest that these platforms have not established effective privacy and safety measures for minors, nor do they conform to existing age verification requirements for adult content. According to officials, simple pop-up confirmations asking users if they are over 18 are inadequate for authenticating ages and preventing minors from viewing adult material.
This scrutiny comes amid broader global regulatory efforts to tighten controls on online pornography services lacking proper age verification mechanisms. For instance, the UK's Ofcom recently launched two investigations targeting porn sites over their failure to implement age-checking measures.
As the world's leading porn site, Pornhub faces escalating scrutiny, particularly with legislative changes in several U.S. states mandating age verification for access. The company advocates for a system of age verification that occurs on users' devices, aiming for streamlined regulatory processes while enhancing user privacy.
The four websites under examination became categorized as very large online platforms under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) in 2023, making them subject to more stringent requirements for managing harmful and illegal online content. If the investigation upholds claims of non-compliance with the DSA, the platforms could be subjected to penalties amounting to 6% of their annual revenue.
The European Commission noted a shift in Stripchat's designation, indicating that it would no longer be classified as a VLOP while still being investigated for potential digital content rule violations. Smaller platforms are also included under the DSA provisions aimed at safeguarding children, emphasizing a collective effort among EU member states to enforce stringent requirements across the sector.
Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's executive vice-president for technology sovereignty, security, and democracy, declared that preserving minors' online safety was of paramount importance. She reiterated the Commission's commitment to collaboratively address any risks posed to young internet users through active engagement with Digital Service Coordinators in the member states.
It reported that the examined sites exhibit a lack of "appropriate" systems to prevent minors from accessing adult material. The EU underscored that online platforms should integrate children's rights and safety into their design and operational protocols. In response to the inquiry, Pornhub's parent company, Aylo, acknowledged the investigation and expressed its dedication to safeguarding minors online while compliance with legal mandates remains a priority.
The Commission's preliminary findings suggest that these platforms have not established effective privacy and safety measures for minors, nor do they conform to existing age verification requirements for adult content. According to officials, simple pop-up confirmations asking users if they are over 18 are inadequate for authenticating ages and preventing minors from viewing adult material.
This scrutiny comes amid broader global regulatory efforts to tighten controls on online pornography services lacking proper age verification mechanisms. For instance, the UK's Ofcom recently launched two investigations targeting porn sites over their failure to implement age-checking measures.
As the world's leading porn site, Pornhub faces escalating scrutiny, particularly with legislative changes in several U.S. states mandating age verification for access. The company advocates for a system of age verification that occurs on users' devices, aiming for streamlined regulatory processes while enhancing user privacy.
The four websites under examination became categorized as very large online platforms under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) in 2023, making them subject to more stringent requirements for managing harmful and illegal online content. If the investigation upholds claims of non-compliance with the DSA, the platforms could be subjected to penalties amounting to 6% of their annual revenue.
The European Commission noted a shift in Stripchat's designation, indicating that it would no longer be classified as a VLOP while still being investigated for potential digital content rule violations. Smaller platforms are also included under the DSA provisions aimed at safeguarding children, emphasizing a collective effort among EU member states to enforce stringent requirements across the sector.
Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's executive vice-president for technology sovereignty, security, and democracy, declared that preserving minors' online safety was of paramount importance. She reiterated the Commission's commitment to collaboratively address any risks posed to young internet users through active engagement with Digital Service Coordinators in the member states.
