Pornhub and Other X-rated Sites Face the Consequences of Europe's New Online Content Law

The European Union is using its extensive new regulations for major online platforms to target pornography sites like Pornhub, Stripchat, and XVideos. The European Commission, the executive body of the bloc, revealed on Wednesday that these sites have been categorized as "very large online platforms" (VLOPs), which means they are now subject to stricter rules regarding age verification, content moderation, and transparency under the Digital Services Act.

European Commissioner Thierry Breton emphasized the importance of prioritizing a safer online space for children under the DSA, as he revealed three new additions.

The commission stated that after conducting an investigation, it discovered that all three platforms had surpassed the threshold of at least 45 million average monthly users in the EU, making them eligible to be classified as a VLOP.

Canadian parent company Pornhubs, Aylo, and Stripchat did not respond to CNNs request for comment, and XVideos could not be reached. The sites must comply with VLOP rules and general online platform obligations by February 17.

Elon Musk speaks onstage during The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2023 at Jazz at Lincoln Center on November 29, 2023 in New York City.

Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for The New York Times

Elon Musks X faces new EU probe over illicit content

The three sites, due to their new designation, must now implement additional measures to prevent the spread of non-consensual sexual content and "deepfake" pornography. Additionally, the European Commission is requiring them to use age verification tools to prevent minors from accessing their content, and to report any suspected criminal offenses, including child sexual abuse, to law enforcement authorities.

Pornhub, Stripchat, and XVideos are required to undergo external audits to ensure their compliance with the new law enacted in August. Additionally, they must release transparency reports on content moderation decisions and risk management every six months, as stated by the commission.

Companies that violate the Digital Services Act can face fines of up to 6% of their annual global revenue. The European Commission has recently invoked this new law to request additional details from TikTok, X, and Meta (parent company of Facebook) regarding the actions they are implementing to safeguard users from illegal content and misinformation.

The body announced on Monday that it had initiated a formal investigation into X, encompassing its management of content related to the Israel-Hamas conflict and the recent introduction of a paid verification system by owner Elon Musk.