The European Commission has launched an investigation into four major pornographic content platforms—Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos—due to concerns over their inadequate protection measures for minors.

This investigation aligns with the Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates that online platforms prioritize the rights and safety of children.

An EU-wide app for age verification is anticipated to be released this summer, enabling users to implement controls without revealing their identities.

While the investigation is ongoing, the companies involved have the opportunity to proactively address the identified issues to avoid potential penalties.

If violations of the DSA are confirmed, these platforms could face fines of up to six percent of their global turnover, with serious repeat offenders potentially facing operational bans in Europe.

A Commission official clarified that the focus of the investigation is on regulatory compliance rather than content censorship.

Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, has expressed its commitment to online safety for minors and compliance with the Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) standards.

In response to age verification laws in the U.S., Pornhub has blocked access in 16 states, citing concerns over data privacy and identity theft.

The investigation does not have a specified deadline, which means that pornographic content remains accessible during this inquiry, although it is a priority for the Commission.

To avoid fines, the companies may choose to engage with the Commission during the investigation to implement stricter age verification measures.

Aylo advocates for age verification to occur at the device level, arguing that stringent website verification could push users towards less secure platforms.

The outcome of this investigation may lead to stricter regulations or penalties for the involved websites if they are found to be in violation of EU laws.