European Commission Opens Formal DSA Investigations into Pornographic Platforms to Safeguard Minors
Key Takeaways Formal Proceedings Initiated: The European Commission has opened formal investigations into Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos for suspected breaches of the Digital Services Act (DSA), focusing on the lack of effective age verification and child protection measures. Core Allegations: The platforms are suspected of failing to: Implement appropriate and proportionate age verification tools. Assess and mitigate risks related to minors’ access to adult content. Ensure the rights and well-being of children are central to platform design. VLOP Status Change: Stripchat is being de-designated as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) after falling below the active user threshold for over a year. However, Stripchat remains subject to general DSA obligations, and enforcement will shift to Cyprus Radiotelevision Authority as its national Digital Services Coordinator. Coordinated Action on Smaller Platforms: In parallel, national authorities across the EU are conducting coordinated enforcement against smaller porn platforms under their jurisdiction, reinforcing a pan-European approach to child protection under the DSA. What Comes Next The Commission will intensify investigations, including further evidence collection, interviews, and possible inspections. It may impose interim measures, non-compliance decisions, or accept binding commitments from platforms. These actions follow the platforms’ 2024 risk assessments and RFI responses, which informed…
