EU Probes Pornhub and Other Adult Sites Over Child Safety Concerns

The European Union has launched an investigation into Pornhub and three other adult content platforms over concerns about inadequate age verification systems. The probe, conducted under the Digital Services Act (DSA), focuses on whether these sites have sufficient measures to prevent minors from accessing explicit material¹.

Regulatory Scrutiny Under the Digital Services Act

The EU’s investigation targets Pornhub, Stripchat, and two unnamed platforms classified as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs). These sites face allegations of failing to implement “appropriate” age verification mechanisms, as required by the DSA¹. The EU had previously set a February 2024 deadline for VLOPs to enforce strict age checks, though Pornhub disputed user estimates (claiming 33 million users versus the EU’s 45 million figure)².

This action parallels ongoing EU investigations into Meta’s Facebook and Instagram for alleged addictive design features, highlighting broader regulatory scrutiny of tech platforms¹. The DSA empowers the EU to impose fines of up to 6% of global revenue for non-compliance.

Global Age Verification Requirements

The EU probe coincides with similar regulatory efforts worldwide. The UK’s Ofcom has mandated age verification for adult sites by July 2025, with penalties for non-compliance³. In the U.S., states like Texas, Louisiana, and Utah have implemented ID-based age checks, leading Pornhub to block access in Texas after a lawsuit by the state’s Attorney General⁴.

These measures have had measurable impacts: Pornhub’s traffic dropped approximately 80% in Louisiana following age verification requirements⁴. The platform’s parent company, Aylo Holdings, previously paid $1.8 million to resolve a U.S. federal sex trafficking investigation involving GirlsDoPorn content⁵.

Technical and Privacy Considerations

Age verification systems present both technical challenges and privacy risks. The EU’s proposed euConsent framework would use biometric verification, while privacy advocates warn such systems could compromise anonymity and create data breach vulnerabilities⁶. The Electronic Frontier Foundation argues these mandates “undermine anonymity online” and could drive users to less regulated platforms⁶.

Industry pushback suggests these regulations may benefit alternative platforms like OnlyFans and niche sites, as noted in Mashable’s analysis of Pornhub alternatives⁷. VPN usage has reportedly spiked in regions with strict age verification laws³.

Security Implications for Organizations

For security professionals, these developments highlight several key considerations:

• Data protection risks from centralized age verification systems
• Potential for increased traffic to unregulated platforms (creating new monitoring challenges)
• Legal compliance requirements for organizations operating in multiple jurisdictions

The EU’s actions reflect growing regulatory focus on platform accountability, with potential implications for how organizations handle user age verification and content moderation. As these regulations evolve, security teams should monitor both compliance requirements and the shifting threat landscape they may create.

Conclusion

The EU’s investigation into Pornhub and other adult platforms represents a significant test of the Digital Services Act’s enforcement capabilities. While aimed at protecting minors, these measures raise important questions about privacy, data security, and the potential unintended consequences of regulatory actions. The outcome of this probe will likely influence global approaches to online age verification and content moderation.