Adult content platforms like Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos are facing allegations from European Union regulators for violating EU regulations that allowed minors to access explicit material on their websites. The charges stem from a thorough 10-month investigation carried out under the Digital Services Act of the EU, which mandates stricter actions by large online platforms to combat illegal and harmful content.
According to EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen, there is a growing concern as children are exposed to adult content at younger ages, emphasizing the urgent need for these platforms to implement robust, privacy-focused, and efficient measures to prevent minors from accessing their services. If found guilty of breaching the Digital Services Act, these companies could face fines of up to six percent of their global annual turnover.
The European Commission, responsible for enforcing the act, criticized the platforms for not utilizing objective and comprehensive methodologies to evaluate the risks associated with minors accessing their services. It accused Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos of prioritizing their reputations over the potential societal dangers to minors.
Furthermore, the regulator raised objections to the companies’ self-declaration tools, which allow users to confirm their age with a simple click, as well as measures like page blurring and content warnings, deeming them ineffective in preventing children from accessing their platforms. The Commission stressed the necessity for Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos to adopt privacy-preserving age verification mechanisms to safeguard children from harmful content.
In a related development, the EU executive commission has initiated a formal investigation into Snapchat under the Digital Services Act over concerns about insufficient measures to protect children from risks such as exploitation by predators or criminal recruitment. While Snapchat’s minimum user age requirement is 13, the Commission suspects that the platform’s “age assurance” system is inadequate in preventing young users from accessing it.
Snapchat responded by stating its full cooperation with the Commission and commitment to meeting the DSA’s safety standards. The company affirmed its dedication to user safety as a top priority and pledged to continue working transparently and diligently throughout the investigation process.
The regulatory actions against these platforms coincide with recent significant verdicts in the United States, where Meta and YouTube were held liable in a high-profile social media addiction trial in Los Angeles, and Meta was found to have violated New Mexico state regulations aimed at safeguarding children from harm.
