Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos are all under the European Union’s scrutiny after a ten-month investigation concluded that their age verification practices are simply not up to standard. A mere checkbox confirmation of being 18 years old? That’s unequivocally insufficient, according to Brussels.
Who is Accused?
- Pornhub: Owned by Aylo Freesites, registered in Cyprus.
- Stripchat: A subsidiary of Technius, also registered in Cyprus.
- XNXX: Operated by NKL Associates, a Czech company.
- XVideos: Managed by WebGroup Czech Republic, a Czech entity.
Henna Virkkunen, head of the EU’s technology policy, has been clear: children are accessing this content at increasingly younger ages, and platforms must implement genuine, privacy-preserving age controls, not just blurred pages and content warnings that anyone can easily bypass with a click.
The Commission also accuses these companies of prioritizing their own reputation over the risks faced by minors. This stern rebuke highlights the seriousness with which regulators are taking the issue. If found guilty, the platforms could face hefty fines of up to 6% of their global annual revenue.
The four companies, operating under Cypriot and Czech parent groups, now have the opportunity to respond before a final decision is rendered by the EU.