Adult content platforms such as Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos are facing accusations of violating European Union regulations by allowing minors to access explicit material on their platforms, EU authorities announced on Thursday. This could potentially result in substantial fines.
The charges stem from a thorough 10-month investigation conducted under the Digital Services Act of the EU, which mandates that large online platforms take stronger actions to combat illegal and harmful content. Henna Virkkunen, the EU tech chief, emphasized the need for these platforms to implement robust and privacy-preserving measures to prevent minors from accessing adult content.
Companies found in breach of the Digital Services Act could face fines of up to six percent of their global annual revenue. The European Commission, responsible for enforcing the act, criticized the identified companies for failing to employ objective and comprehensive methods to evaluate the risks faced by children using their services.
Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos have been accused of prioritizing their reputations over safeguarding minors from societal risks. The regulator raised concerns about the companies’ self-declaration tools and other measures like page blurring and content warnings, deeming them ineffective in preventing underage access to their platforms.
The Commission called for the implementation of age verification measures that protect minors from harmful content on these adult sites. In a related development, Snapchat is now under scrutiny as the EU executive commission has launched a formal investigation into the platform for not adequately safeguarding children from risks like exposure to predators or recruitment by criminals.
While Snapchat requires users to be at least 13 years old to use its services, the Commission doubts the effectiveness of the platform’s age verification system in keeping young users away. Snapchat assured that it is cooperating fully with the investigation and is committed to meeting the safety standards outlined in the Digital Services Act to prioritize user safety.
