The European Commission has launched an investigation into four major pornography websites – Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos – for suspected breaches of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), focusing on child protection.
At the centre of the investigation is the concern that age verification tools used by the platforms are weak or ineffective, potentially allowing minors to access explicit adult content. The Commission says these platforms failed to apply proportionate safety and privacy measures, especially for underage users.
Officials also found the companies had not conducted proper risk assessments or taken steps to reduce harm to children’s rights. This includes not using appropriate tools to verify users’ ages or safeguarding children from harmful material.
The DSA, which came into force for major platforms in 2023, sets strict rules for so-called Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs), those with over 45 million average monthly users. Porn platforms met this threshold and are now held to the same rules as Facebook, TikTok, and Amazon.
The Commission said it is working with national authorities through the European Board for Digital Services to carry out coordinated actions. These national bodies are responsible for smaller platforms.
Stripchat is expected to lose its VLOP status in four months, after confirming its user numbers fall below the threshold.
This is part of a wider EU push to protect children online. The Commission is also probing Meta and TikTok, and has opened a public consultation on draft guidelines for improving online child safety.
