The European Union announced Wednesday that it is adding the porn site XXNX to its list of online services subject to the strictest scrutiny under the bloc’s digital regulations. These regulations include measures requiring users to verify their ages.
XXNX becomes the fourth porn site designated as a “very large online platform” under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), joining Pornhub, XVideos, and Stripchat. These platforms, along with 21 major platforms like TikTok, Amazon, Facebook, Instagram, and Google, must adhere to additional obligations designed to keep internet users safe. The DSA, which came into effect last year, aims to protect users from illegal content and unsafe products, with potential fines reaching up to 6% of global revenue.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, stated that XXNX’s inclusion is due to its 45 million European users, meeting the threshold for increased oversight. By November, XXNX must implement measures to prevent minors from accessing its content using age verification tools. The site must also provide researchers with access to publicly available data and publish an ad database. Additionally, XXNX must assess and mitigate systemic risks, including the dissemination of illegal content and negative impacts on users’ mental and physical well-being.
Attempts to contact XXNX for comment were unsuccessful due to a nonfunctional media contact form.
Last month, the Commission requested further details from Pornhub, XVideos, and Stripchat on their measures to protect minors. The DSA aims to make digital markets “fairer” and “more contestable,” aligning with global efforts to regulate the tech industry.
