BRUSSELS — The European Commission is asking three of the world’s largest pornography sites to provide details of the measures they have taken to better protect minors’ access to their content and prevent gender-based violence.
The executive branch of the European Union made the decision targeting Pornhub, XVideos and Stripchat as part of its pioneering initiative. Digital Services Law, or DSA, which imposes a set of strict requirements designed to keep Internet users safe online. Faced with fines, companies must provide information before July 4.
Pornhub, XVideos and Stripchat have been classified as “very large online platforms” subject to stricter controls under the DSA because each has an average of 45 million monthly users.
“The Commission asks companies to provide more detailed information on the measures they have taken to diligently assess and mitigate the risks related to the protection of minors online, as well as to prevent the amplification of illegal content and gender-based violence,” the statement indicated. the European Commission said on Thursday.
The EU wants to know what kind of safeguards have been put in place to ensure that viewers are not minors. On most porn platforms, a simple click on the “yes” box indicating that the user is 18 years or older is enough to enter.
The European Commission also asks companies to explain how they have adapted their internal organization to comply with the DSA.
“Indeed, the DSA requires large designated online platforms to be equipped with independent and well-equipped internal teams with sufficient authority and resources, as well as access to the management body,” the European Commission said.
Last year, Pornhub questioned its status as a very large online platform under the DSA, referring to a statement on its website that said it has an average of 33 million monthly users.
France, Germany and Brittany and US states, including Utah and Texas, have drafted laws requiring porn sites to verify that a user is 18 or older. Methods could include checking credit cards or government-issued IDs or scanning faces to estimate ages, but all of those systems have raised concerns about privacy and discrimination.
Europe’s digital law also requires measures to curb the risk of spreading illegal content online, such as child sexual abuse material, or content that violates “fundamental rights” such as privacy, such as “non-consensual” images or deepfake pornography.
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