The EU's investigation into Pornhub, Stripchat, and others raises alarms about the effectiveness of age verification methods to shield children from adult content online.
EU Initiates Investigation into Pornhub and Other Adult Sites for Child Safety Concerns
EU Initiates Investigation into Pornhub and Other Adult Sites for Child Safety Concerns
The European Commission launches an inquiry into major adult websites over inadequate child protection measures.
In an effort to enhance child safety online, the European Commission has commenced an investigation into several prominent pornography websites, including Pornhub and Stripchat, to assess their compliance with stringent online content laws designed to protect minors. This probe extends to other popular platforms like XVideos and XNXX, amid growing concerns about their capacity to safeguard children from accessing explicit materials.
The Commission's preliminary findings indicate that these sites lack adequate age verification mechanisms, which raises questions about their commitment to children's rights and safety. "Online platforms must ensure that the rights and best interests of children are central to the design and functioning of their services," a representative from the Commission stated, emphasizing the need for effective measures.
In its initial assessments, the EU suggested that the platforms have not established "appropriate and proportionate measures" to ensure a secure online environment for minors. Specifically, the study noted the ineffective nature of "click away" pop-ups currently employed by some sites for age checks, which are seen as insufficient in preventing younger users from viewing adult content.
This investigation comes as worldwide regulatory bodies intensify scrutiny over adult content providers, scrutinizing their efforts to prevent underage users from gaining access. The UK's Ofcom, for instance, has recently launched inquiries into similar platforms that appeared to lack any age verification protocols.
Notably, Pornhub, identified as the most visited pornographic site globally, has faced mounting regulatory pressures and has restricted access to users in 16 U.S. states that have enacted laws demanding age verification. In a recent statement, the site suggested that age verification could occur at the device level, thus streamlining the process for regulators while protecting user privacy.
The entities under the EU's scrutiny are classified as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) under the Digital Services Act (DSA) implemented in 2023. This categorization subjects them to rigorous obligations to eliminate harmful and illegal material on their platforms. Should the Commission confirm potential violations of the DSA, it reserves the right to impose enforcement actions or fines reaching up to 6% of an organization's annual revenue.
While the Commission stated that Stripchat would no longer hold the VLOP designation, the inquiry into its compliance remains ongoing. Additionally, smaller platforms that fall below the 45 million EU users threshold are nonetheless required to adhere to the same digital safety measures, as member states bolster coordinated efforts to enforce child protection regulations across the online landscape.
Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security, and democracy, reaffirmed the EU's commitment to protecting minors online, asserting, "Our priority is to protect minors and allow them to navigate safely online."
The Commission's preliminary findings indicate that these sites lack adequate age verification mechanisms, which raises questions about their commitment to children's rights and safety. "Online platforms must ensure that the rights and best interests of children are central to the design and functioning of their services," a representative from the Commission stated, emphasizing the need for effective measures.
In its initial assessments, the EU suggested that the platforms have not established "appropriate and proportionate measures" to ensure a secure online environment for minors. Specifically, the study noted the ineffective nature of "click away" pop-ups currently employed by some sites for age checks, which are seen as insufficient in preventing younger users from viewing adult content.
This investigation comes as worldwide regulatory bodies intensify scrutiny over adult content providers, scrutinizing their efforts to prevent underage users from gaining access. The UK's Ofcom, for instance, has recently launched inquiries into similar platforms that appeared to lack any age verification protocols.
Notably, Pornhub, identified as the most visited pornographic site globally, has faced mounting regulatory pressures and has restricted access to users in 16 U.S. states that have enacted laws demanding age verification. In a recent statement, the site suggested that age verification could occur at the device level, thus streamlining the process for regulators while protecting user privacy.
The entities under the EU's scrutiny are classified as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) under the Digital Services Act (DSA) implemented in 2023. This categorization subjects them to rigorous obligations to eliminate harmful and illegal material on their platforms. Should the Commission confirm potential violations of the DSA, it reserves the right to impose enforcement actions or fines reaching up to 6% of an organization's annual revenue.
While the Commission stated that Stripchat would no longer hold the VLOP designation, the inquiry into its compliance remains ongoing. Additionally, smaller platforms that fall below the 45 million EU users threshold are nonetheless required to adhere to the same digital safety measures, as member states bolster coordinated efforts to enforce child protection regulations across the online landscape.
Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security, and democracy, reaffirmed the EU's commitment to protecting minors online, asserting, "Our priority is to protect minors and allow them to navigate safely online."
