Richard Parks The European Commission has launched an official investigation into four major adult content websites—Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos. The goal is to check if these sites failed to keep minors from seeing explicit content. This action follows the rules of the EU’s new Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to make the internet safer, especially for children.
The investigation began after a review found that these websites mainly use weak age checks, such as self-declaration pop-ups. This means users can simply click a button to say they are over 18, without any real proof. EU officials say this is not enough to stop underage users from getting in. One official said, “Today is a good day for protecting minors online in the EU… we are clearly showing that we mean it.”
The European Commission stressed that online platforms must take child safety seriously. Under the DSA, any platform with over 45 million users in the EU is listed as a “Very Large Online Platform” (VLOP). These platforms must meet stronger safety standards. The four websites under investigation are all considered VLOPs.
If the Commission finds that the sites have broken the rules, they could face large fines—up to 6% of their global yearly income. These fines are meant to push companies to improve their systems. There is no set date for when the case will end, but officials say they want to act quickly. The final decision will depend on how the companies respond and what changes they make.
To avoid penalties, the platforms may need to add new tools that do a better job of checking users’ ages. This could include age verification that uses ID documents or device-based controls. These are much harder to bypass than simple checkboxes.
Pornhub’s parent company, Aylo Freesites, has responded. The company said it plans to work with EU officials and agrees that children should not be able to access adult content. In a statement, Aylo said, “We are fully committed to ensuring the safety of minors online.” The company also said that real protection needs to happen at the device level—not just on the websites themselves.
Stripchat is owned by Technius Ltd, which is based in Cyprus. The company recently appealed its VLOP status. Starting in September, Stripchat will be regulated by Cypriot authorities. But until then, the current investigation led by the European Commission will continue. Technius has not released a public statement so far.
The parent companies of XVideos and XNXX have also been contacted, but their lawyers have not responded yet.
This case is part of a wider move by the EU to hold big tech platforms responsible for what happens on their sites. With the rise of online content, officials are under pressure to make sure children are not exposed to harmful material. If the Commission decides to fine or punish these platforms, it could become a model for how other countries handle similar issues.
The DSA is one of the EU’s strongest tools to regulate digital spaces. It covers not only age checks but also hate speech, illegal products, and misinformation. Experts believe that more platforms may be reviewed in the coming months.
This investigation shows that the EU is serious about online safety. For many years, children have been able to reach adult content with just a few clicks. Now, that could change.
As the case continues, the platforms will likely try to prove that they are doing enough to protect young users. But the EU has made it clear: basic self-declared age checks are no longer good enough.