The European Commission has demanded details from porn websites over their adherence to the Digital Services Act (DSA).
In a press release published on June 13, the EC said it had contacted Pornhub, Xvideos and Stripchat for information on how they abide by the European Union’s new censorship rules, especially regarding the protection of minors.
“The Commission is requesting the companies to provide more detailed information on the measures they have taken to diligently assess and mitigate risks related to the protection of minors online, as well as the to prevent the amplification of illegal content and gender-based violence,” the EC wrote.
“Among others the Commission is requiring details on age assurance mechanisms adopted by these pornographic platforms.”
Brussels is also asking for each firm to show how they are organising themselves “to ensure compliance with the DSA” as websites designated by the EC as “very large online platforms”.
“The DSA indeed requires designated very large online platforms to equip themselves with independent and well-resourced internal teams with sufficient authority and resources, as well as access to the management body,” the press release said.
“Under the DSA, compliance officers must ensure that all systemic risks outlined in the regulation are identified and properly reported on.”
All three platforms have until July 4 to provide the information requested or risk being hit with enforcement action.
Response to the EC demands has been mixed.
Aylo, Pornhub’s owner, reportedly insisted that it has “instituted some of the most comprehensive safeguards in user-generated platform history” on its website.
Xvideos expressed bewilderment at how the EU was expecting it to hand over all the necessary information by the listed due date.
“The Commission is asking for an amount of information that seems rather enormous for the 20 days they gave to answer,” the company reportedly told Euractiv.
Pornography website Pornhub’s parent company Aylo is suing the European Commission for exaggerating the platform’s size after it was designated a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the EU's Digital Services Act, meaning tougher regulations. https://t.co/2J3UIAz9Uk
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) March 8, 2024
