The European Commission has started an official investigation into four large adult websites: Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos. The investigation focuses on these sites failing to properly protect minors from accessing pornographic content. This action is part of the EU’s Digital Services Act, a law designed to improve online safety and protect users, especially children.
Regulators say that these platforms use weak age verification methods, such as one-click self-declarations. These methods do not effectively stop users under 18 from viewing adult content. The EU wants stronger verification tools that can better block minors.
The investigation targets platforms with more than 45 million users in the EU, known as “very large online platforms.” Smaller sites are managed by national authorities. Although Stripchat recently appealed its status as a very large platform and will soon come under Cyprus jurisdiction, its child safety responsibilities continue until September, and the investigation is moving forward.
If the platforms do not improve their age verification systems, they could face fines of up to 6 percent of their global annual turnover. To avoid penalties, they must adopt stronger verification tools approved by EU regulators. The Commission expects a quick response but has not set a final deadline for the investigation.
Pornhub’s parent company, Aylo Freesites, said it is aware of the investigation and supports stronger age checks. The company said verifying user age at the device level is the best solution. Stripchat’s parent company has not commented publicly. Legal teams for XVideos and XNXX have not yet responded.
This investigation is one of the EU’s first major enforcement actions under the Digital Services Act. It highlights the growing pressure on adult platforms to take concrete steps to protect minors. The Digital Services Act aims to hold very large online platforms accountable for harmful content and illegal activities. Child safety is a key focus.
The European Commission’s probe sends a strong message that online platforms must improve their age verification or face serious penalties. This move marks an important step in making the internet safer for young users.
