EU Charges Pornhub, XVideos Over Child Safety
The European Commission says four adult platforms failed to properly protect minors from pornographic content under the Digital Services Act.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Sex Crimes
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On March 26, the European Commission said Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX and XVideos broke the EU's Digital Services Act on first examination. The Commission found the platforms let anyone enter by clicking a button confirming they were over 18, and judged blurred images, warnings and 'adults only' labels too weak to stop children reaching pornography.
Why it matters
The findings put pressure on platforms operating across EU borders to show that age verification protects minors without exposing users' personal details. The Commission said the sites need privacy-preserving age verification measures, and the case could set a standard for how adult sites are regulated in the bloc.
The Commission has issued first-examination findings against four platforms and they may respond in writing. A final decision and any fine of up to 6 per cent of worldwide yearly turnover depend on whether the European Board for Digital Services backs the findings.
The players
European Commission
The executive body of the European Union that enforces the Digital Services Act against large online platforms operating in the bloc.
Cynthia Ni Mhurchu
An Irish Member of the European Parliament who raised the question of which authority oversees adult sites based in Cyprus and Ireland.
Ofcom
The British communications regulator that opened an investigation into whether Pornhub's age checks work properly.
The details
The Commission said the four firms did not diligently identify and assess risks their platforms pose to minors, and that they put business-centric concerns ahead of child safety. Pornhub and Stripchat are based in Cyprus, Aylo Freesites Ltd is listed as provider of nine adult video services under Cypriot jurisdiction, and Aylo Billing Limited is based in Ireland.
Timeline
September 22: Ofcom opened an investigation into whether Pornhub's age checks, introduced in Britain in May, work properly.
March 26: The European Commission said the four adult sites broke the Digital Services Act on first examination.
November 10: Irish MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu asked the Commission who polices Cyprus- and Ireland-based adult sites.
Legal Context
The case is an early test of the Digital Services Act's obligations for very large platforms to assess and mitigate risks to minors. It follows a broader pattern of European regulators moving from policy to enforcement against adult sites.
Users in the EU may see stricter age checks on adult sites as the Commission's process moves forward. Parents may want to review device-level parental controls, since the findings say simple click-through age confirmations are not enough to block minors.
The takeaway
Age gates that rely on a single click are being challenged across Europe, and families should not assume a site's warning labels provide protection. Checking the tools built into your devices can add a layer of control that platform policies alone may not provide.
Further reading
Explore more reporting in our Sex Crimes coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cyprus Mail.
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