The European Commission intends to introduce restrictions on the work of Pornhub, XVideos and Stripchat

Three of the world’s biggest porn sites have been added to the list of internet companies subject to new European rules that require, among other things, verification of user age.

Pornhub, XVideos and Stripchat will be considered from April “very large online platforms” as required by the Digital Services Act (DSA), the European Commission announced. The law imposes increased obligations on platforms with more than 45 million users and already applies to Internet giants such as Google, Meta and TikTok, which must therefore do more to combat misinformation and protect children.

Now the changes will affect all three porn sites popular on the Internet. Today, anyone can access these platforms by clicking a button and declaring themselves an adult. But in the future, companies will be required to use age verification systems, sources told the Financial Times before the decision was announced.

Today we designate 3 additional very large online platforms.

Pornhub, Stripchat and XVideos meet the user thresholds to fall under stricter #DSA obligations. 

Creating a safer online environment for our children is an enforcement priority under the DSA. https://t.co/bq2XhnUqUh

— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) December 20, 2023

In addition, the three sites will be subject to new obligations to remove illegal content, such as non-consensual videos or child pornography, and will be subject to independent audits for compliance.

In April EU added 19 companies to the DSA list, including three Alphabet subsidiaries, two Meta companies, two Microsoft companies, X and AliExpres.

Canada-based Pornhub said in July it had just 33 million users in the EU, below the legal threshold of 45 million. However, the commission found that, according to data from alternative sources, this figure is actually much higher.

Prague-based XVideos said it has 160 million users in Europe, while Stripchat says it serves 500 million users worldwide.

Companies that do not comply with the new European rules face fines that could reach 6% of their global turnover.

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