BRUSSELS, EU – The European Commission has initiated formal investigations against four of the world’s largest online pornography platforms—Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos—under the sweeping new Digital Services Act (DSA). The core allegation is the platforms’ alleged failure to implement effective measures to prevent minors from accessing adult content.
The action, categorized as an “offensive” against ineffective youth protection, targets these platforms, which have been classified as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) under the DSA due to their massive reach across the EU.
The Ineffectiveness of “Click-to-Enter”
According to the Commission, the current age verification systems used by the platforms—often a simple “one-click self-declaration” where a user confirms they are over 18—are demonstrably ineffective and fall short of the DSA’s requirement to ensure a high level of safety and security for minors.
The investigation focuses specifically on the risks linked to the lack of appropriate and proportionate age assurance tools, which are mandated to safeguard the mental and physical well-being of young users.
The EU’s Solution and Penalties
This coordinated action across the EU emphasizes that self-declaration is no longer sufficient. To aid compliance, the European Commission is actively developing a privacy-preserving age verification blueprint. This prototype app aims to allow users to securely prove they are over 18 without disclosing sensitive personal data to the platforms.
If the formal proceedings conclude that the platforms are in breach of the DSA, they face substantial financial penalties, with fines potentially reaching up to 6% of their global annual turnover.
This enforcement effort signals a decisive move by the EU to ensure that online environments are safe for children, placing the responsibility firmly on the tech giants to adopt robust and verifiable age assurance mechanisms.
