European Commission opens proceedings against pornographic platforms

IRIS 2025-6:1/14

Amélie Lacourt

European Audiovisual Observatory

On 27 May 2025, the European Commission opened formal proceedings against four pornographic platforms: Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos. Breaches of the Digital Services Act (DSA) in relation to the protection of minors online are suspected of having been committed by the platforms.

The risks detected relate in particular to the following: 

- Appropriate and proportionate measures to ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security for minors, in particular with age verification tools to safeguard minors from adult content.

- Risk assessment and mitigation measures regarding any negative effects on the rights of the child and the mental and physical well-being of users.

If proven, failure to comply with these requirements would constitute infringements of the DSA. The Commission will continue to gather evidence, sending additional requests for information or conducting interviews or inspections. Further enforcement steps, such as interim measures and non-compliance decisions, may also be taken. The Commission can also accept commitments made by Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX and XVideos to address the issues raised during the proceedings.

The European Board for Digital Services (EBDS) has welcomed the European Commission's action against the four platforms. Member states in the EBDS have also launched a coordinated action to protect minors from pornographic content on smaller platforms and to ensure consistent application of the DSA across the EU. Relevant national competent authorities will exchange on enforcement approaches, methodologies and best practices, particularly in identifying pornographic platforms and evaluating existing age verification measures on those platforms.

It should be noted that in parallel to these proceedings, the Commission announced the termination of the designation of Stripchat as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) due to the number of average monthly active recipients in the EU being lower than the relevant threshold for an uninterrupted period of one year. General obligations, including on the protection of minors, however, continue to apply. Compliance with the DSA will become the responsibility of the competent national Digital Services Coordinator: the Cyprus Radio Television Authority.