Recently, the European Commission moved to enforce the Digital Services Act on major adult content portals, specifically Pornhub, Stripchat, and XVideos. The measure requires these platforms to align their content governance with the new rules that govern what is shown to users online across the European Union.
The directive affects these portals due to their combined reach, reportedly serving tens of millions of users each month. Compliance became mandatory starting February 17, 2024, underscoring the Commission’s push to modernize online safety standards for platforms with broad audience access.
Key obligations include providing straightforward ways for users to report illegal content, and notifying platform administrators when videos are removed. Users must also be offered a clear path to appeal decisions regarding moderation actions, ensuring transparency and accountability in content moderation processes.
Additionally, platforms are required to act promptly if there is any suspicion that crimes endangering life or safety are occurring, in particular cases involving sexual abuse of minors. The legislation presses these portals to redesign their systems to achieve high efficiency in privacy protection and safety measures, with a focus on safeguarding minors from exposure to explicit material and ensuring age verification where appropriate.
Another important aspect is the duty to prevent manipulative design and to make advertising identification obvious. The portals must ensure that content does not exploit users based on ethnicity, political beliefs, or sexual orientation and that material is not targeted toward minors, preserving a safer online environment for younger audiences.
A central objective of the Digital Services Act is greater transparency in how large platforms determine what users see. Pornhub, Stripchat, and XVideos will be required to publish compilations every six months detailing the measures taken to control content and mitigate risks linked to user safety and well-being online.
Additionally, there will be annual assessments of systemic risks posed by these platforms, with particular attention to potential harms to the physical and mental health of younger users. The emphasis is on preventing harm through proactive safeguards and robust verification processes, rather than reactive steps after issues arise.
Officials emphasize that a safer online space for children remains a top priority under the Digital Services Act. Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, acknowledged this focus in a public statement, underscoring the Commission’s commitment to modernizing digital governance and protecting vulnerable users across the union. These remarks reflect a broader EU strategy to harmonize safety standards and accountability across major technology services operating within member states.