Biggest porn websites Black Out in France; complain to users: Your government suggests ...
Pornhub
,
YouPorn
, and
RedTube
, owned by
Aylo
, have reportedly blocked access to their content in France in protest of new age verification requirements aimed at protecting minors from accessing pornography.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
French visitors attempting to access these platforms on Wednesday were greeted with a message denouncing the privacy risks posed by the government's mandate, which requires users to verify their age using sensitive personal information such as credit cards or ID documents.
According to a report by news agency AFP, the message on Pornhub, accompanied by an image of the bare-breasted Liberty from Eugène Delacroix's 1830 painting Liberty Leading the People, criticized the French law: 'Your government suggests checking your age every time you visit our site — that's crazy, right?' Aylo, formerly MindGeek, argued that the requirement to repeatedly provide personal data creates an 'unacceptable security risk' for users, citing potential vulnerabilities to hacks, leaks, or bad actors.
The company also claimed that the law pushes users toward unregulated sites that fail to moderate content for issues like performer age and consent.
What France's new law says on adult websites
France's new rules, part of a broader global trend, align with the EU's Digital Services Act, the UK's Online Safety Act, and similar laws in several U.S. states, all designed to restrict minors' access to inappropriate online content. The European Commission recently launched an investigation into Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos for alleged failures to protect minors.
France, which was Pornhub's second-largest market in 2024, requires adult platforms to offer a 'double-blind' third-party verification option to shield user data from the sites themselves, but Aylo dismissed this as ineffective.
Instead, Aylo proposed that governments mandate age verification at the device level through operating systems like Apple, Microsoft, or Google, which could provide an 'age signal' to grant or deny access without compromising user privacy.
The report quoted France's Digital Affairs Minister Clara Chappaz who responded firmly. He said, 'Let [Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube] go. They can come back the day they're ready to finally respect our rules.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
29 minutes ago
- First Post
History Today: How the nation of Pakistan was born
The Dominion of Pakistan was created when Britain handed over power on August 14, 1947. At the stroke of midnight, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the first governor-general of Pakistan, addressed the nation and emphasised on unity, tolerance, and equal rights for all citizens The portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah is seen at at the Wagah border post as a Pakistani Ranger (top) unfurls the Pakistani national flag during a ceremony to celebrate Independence Day. File image/AFP Pakistan and India were one nation till 1947, when the countries gained independence from the British Empire. But while the independence was a joyful event, partition was something that came along with it. And people on both sides of the border remember August 14, 1947, as a sombre as well as happy day when Pakistan was created. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today, will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD One of the most wanted terrorists in the world, Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, who was better known as Carlos the Jackal, was captured in Sudan by French authorities on August 14, 1994. Here is all that took place on this day across the world. Pakistan came into existence August 14 is an important date in the history of the Indian subcontinent as Pakistan emerged as an independent nation. With this, nearly 200 years of British rule came to an end and marked the emergence of two new nations - India and Pakistan. Pakistan was created as a result of the Pakistan Movement, spearheaded by the All-India Muslim League under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Pakistan was initially set to share its Independence Day with India on August 15, but it was difficult for Mountbatten to be present at both New Delhi and Karachi at the same time; hence, Pakistan's Independence Day was brought forward. British Viceroy Lord Mountbatten (centre) with Muhammad Ali Jinnah (right) and Jawaharlal Nehru (left). Wikimedia Commons The power was transferred from the last British Viceroy Lord Mountbatten, to the new Dominion of Pakistan at the stroke of midnight on August 14. The Constituent Assembly met in Karachi, and Jinnah addressed the nation, emphasising unity, tolerance, and equal rights for all citizens, regardless of religion. However, the joy of independence was marred by one of the largest and bloodiest migrations in human history. From that day, millions of Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs moved to the newly created nations. Reports suggest that these displacements were often marred by some of the most horrific communal violence. Estimates suggest that up to a million people lost their lives. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The new nation adopted its green-and-white flag symbolising Muslim identity and minority rights, and 'Pakistan Zindabad' ('Long Live Pakistan') became the rallying cry of its people. Amid these instances of pain, Pakistan began its journey as a sovereign state with aspirations to build a strong, democratic, and Islamic society. International terrorist Carlos the Jackal was captured One of the world's most wanted terrorists, Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, better known as Carlos the Jackal, was captured in Sudan in a covert French intelligence operation. Carlos, a Venezuelan-born militant, gained international notoriety in the 1970s and 1980s for a series of bombings, hijackings, and assassinations linked to pro-Palestinian and other revolutionary causes. His most infamous act was the 1975 raid on a meeting of Opec oil ministers in Vienna, in which he took more than 60 hostages and killed three people. The daring operation, combined with his ability to evade capture for decades, turned him into both a feared figure and a media myth. Terrorist Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, aka Carlos the Jackal, in a Paris court in 2000. File image/AP By the early 1990s, Carlos had largely faded from the headlines but was still wanted by multiple governments. French intelligence learned that he was in Khartoum, Sudan, receiving medical treatment for varicose veins. In a carefully planned operation, Sudanese authorities, under pressure from France, allowed French agents to enter the country and carry out the arrest. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On the night of August 14, a team of French operatives seized Carlos from his villa and sedated him. He was flown to Paris, where he was formally charged with the 1975 murders of two French counterintelligence agents and an informant. This Day, That Year Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt became the first person to win the 100 metres at the Rio de Janeiro Games in three consecutive Olympics in 2016. On this day in 1941, British PM Winston Churchill and US President Franklin D Roosevelt issued the Atlantic Charter. China declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary during World War I in 1917. With inputs from agencies
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
Trump threatens Putin of 'very severe consequences' if Russia blocks peace deal with Ukraine ahead of...
US President Donald Trump has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of 'serious consequences' if Russia blocks efforts to bring peace to Ukraine. Speaking on Wednesday, Trump suggested that if his meeting with Putin in Alaska on Friday does not go well, Russia could face punishment, possibly in the form of economic sanctions. He did not give details about the exact measures. Trump said the Alaska talks would be the first step towards a second meeting, this time including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 'If the first meeting goes well, we'll have another one almost immediately,' he told reporters. 'I'd like to be there with both President Putin and President Zelenskyy if they agree.' He also blamed the war on the Biden administration, saying, 'This is Biden's doing, not mine. He got us into this. If I had been President, this war would never have happened. But now I'm here to fix it.' Trump highlighted his past record in stopping conflicts, claiming, 'If we can save many lives, that will be a great achievement. In the past six months, I have stopped five wars. We also destroyed Iran's nuclear program completely.' Trump's firm positions before the Alaska talks The warning came after a high-level online meeting between Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European leaders, hosted by Germany, to set firm positions before the Alaska talks. 'We had a very good call. President Zelenskyy was there too. I'd give it a 10 out of 10, very friendly,' Trump said. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Trump agreed Ukrainian land could not be given away without Kyiv's approval. He also said Trump supported giving Ukraine security guarantees in any peace deal after the war. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed that borders must be respected. 'If Russia shows no willingness to move during the Alaska talks, then the US and Europe should increase pressure,' he said, adding that Trump strongly agreed with this stance. The Alaska meeting aims to address the war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year, the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. Trump has previously hinted that some kind of land swap might help end the war, an idea that has caused serious concern in Kyiv and among European leaders.
India.com
3 hours ago
- India.com
Trump Warns Of Severe Consequences' If Putin Refuses To Halt War After Alaska Summit
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that there would be "very severe consequences" if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to end the war in Ukraine during their upcoming summit on Friday. As per the media reports, according to French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump was "very clear" during a virtual meeting with European leaders that the US is aiming for a ceasefire at the forthcoming US-Russia summit, set to take place in Alaska. During the same meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the group that he believes Putin "is bluffing" ahead of his planned talks with Trump. "Putin is trying to apply pressure ... on all sectors of the Ukrainian front," Zelensky said, to demonstrate that Russia is "capable of occupying all of Ukraine." He also accused Putin of feigning indifference to sanctions. "He is bluffing about sanctions, as if they do not matter to him and are ineffective. In reality, sanctions are very helpful and are hitting Russia's war economy hard," Zelensky stated. According to an Associated Press report, speaking after the video conference between Trump, Zelensky, and European leaders, Macron noted that Trump is prioritising a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. He also said Trump had made it clear that "territorial issues relating to Ukraine ... will only be negotiated by the Ukrainian president." Following Friday's meeting with Putin, Trump also intends to "seek a future trilateral meeting" involving himself, Putin, and Zelensky, Macron revealed. "I think that's a very important point in this regard. And we hope that it can be held in Europe, in a neutral country that is acceptable to all parties," he said. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz convened the virtual meetings to ensure European and Ukrainian leaders' voices are heard before the Trump-Putin summit, where the two are expected to discuss a potential roadmap toward ending Russia's war in Ukraine. Speaking alongside Zelensky, who travelled to Berlin on Wednesday to participate, Merz described the meeting with Trump as "constructive" and emphasised that "important decisions" could be made in Anchorage. However, he underlined that "fundamental European and Ukrainian security interests must be protected" during the summit, the report added. Zelensky and European leaders have been excluded from the Alaska summit. German government spokesperson Steffen Meyer said Wednesday's meetings aimed to "make clear the position of the Europeans." A separate call was expected later on Wednesday between leaders of countries in the so-called "coalition of the willing", those ready to help enforce any future peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv. Before arriving in Berlin, Zelensky said his government had held over 30 conversations with international partners in preparation for the summit, but reiterated his scepticism about Putin's intentions. On his official Telegram channel, Zelensky wrote that there is "currently no sign that the Russians are preparing to end the war," urging Ukraine's partners in the US and Europe to coordinate more closely and "force Russia to peace." "Pressure must be applied on Russia for an honest peace. We must take the experience of Ukraine and our partners to prevent deception by Russia," he added. Trump has said he wants to determine whether Putin is serious about ending the war, now in its fourth year, and described Friday's summit as "a feel-out meeting" to assess the Russian leader's intentions. However, Trump has unsettled European allies by suggesting that Ukraine may need to cede some Russian-held territory. He has also floated the idea of land swaps, though it remains unclear what Russia might be expected to give up in return. European leaders insist Ukraine must be directly involved in any peace negotiations, fearing that a bilateral agreement between the US and Russia could tilt in Moscow's favour. On Monday, Trump declined several opportunities to confirm whether he would push for Zelensky's inclusion in discussions with Putin, and appeared dismissive of the Ukrainian leader's role. Trump said a meeting between Putin and Zelensky might follow Friday's summit or that it could involve "Putin and Zelensky, and me." Ukraine and its European allies remain concerned that Putin, who launched the largest land war in Europe since 1945 and has used Russia's energy dominance to pressure the EU, might gain favourable concessions if Kyiv is not at the negotiating table. A key fear among many European nations is that if Putin is successful in Ukraine, he may then target one of them. On Tuesday, Zelensky said Putin is demanding that Ukraine withdraw from the remaining 30% of the Donetsk region that it still controls as part of a proposed ceasefire. Zelensky categorically rejected the idea. He reiterated that Ukraine would not cede any territory it currently holds, calling such a move unconstitutional and warning it would merely provide a springboard for further Russian aggression. Zelensky also criticised US-led diplomatic efforts for failing to meet Ukraine's core demands, including security guarantees to deter future Russian attacks and the inclusion of Europe in the talks. Three weeks into his return to office, Trump's administration removed Ukraine's potential NATO membership from the agenda, a key Russian demand, and signalled that the EU and Ukraine should now handle European security, while the US shifts focus elsewhere. Senior EU officials believe Trump may be primarily interested in securing a ceasefire rather than a comprehensive peace deal, with broader US geopolitical interests, including improved trade with Russia and rehabilitating Putin, taking precedence. Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to press in on a strategic objective: the city of Pokrovsk, located in the eastern Donbas region, which forms the industrial heart of Ukraine and has long been a target for the Kremlin. Military analysts monitoring the conflict say Ukraine's ability to hold Pokrovsk could prove critical. Losing the city would give Russia a significant victory ahead of the summit and could jeopardise Ukrainian supply lines in Donetsk, where most of Russia's military efforts are currently focused.
