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Time of India
9 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
EU investigates four porn platforms over risks to children
HighlightsThe European Commission has launched an investigation into four pornographic platforms, including Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos, for allegedly failing to implement effective age verification measures to protect minors from accessing adult content. Under the European Union's Digital Services Act, very large online platforms with at least 45 million monthly active users have heightened obligations to safeguard children and ensure their privacy and security online. The investigation could lead to fines of up to six percent of a firm's global turnover for violations, and platforms found guilty of serious and repeated violations may face bans from operating in Europe. The EU launched an investigation on Tuesday into four pornographic platforms over suspicions they are failing to stop children accessing adult content in breach of the bloc's strict digital content law. The European Commission said its investigations into Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX and XVideos "focus on the risks for the protection of minors, including those linked to the absence of effective age verification measures". The commission, the European Union's tech regulator, accused the platforms of not having "appropriate" age verification tools to prevent children from being exposed to porn. An AFP correspondent had only to click a button on Tuesday stating they were older than 18, without any further checks, to gain access to each of the four platforms. The commission found that the four platforms did not have "appropriate and proportionate measures to ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security for minors". They also did not have measures in place to prevent negative effects on children as well as users' mental and physical well-being, the commission said. "Online platforms must ensure that the rights and best interests of children are central to the design and functioning of their services," it added. Pornhub's parent company Aylo said it was "fully committed to ensuring the safety of minors online", adding that "We will always comply with the law." The EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) forces the world's biggest tech companies to do more to protect European users online and has strict rules to safeguard children and ensure their privacy and security. Under the law, "very large" online platforms with at least 45 million monthly active users in the EU have even greater obligations, and they are regulated by the commission rather than national authorities. Fearful over children's access to adult content, the commission said it would work with national authorities to make sure smaller porn platforms apply the same rules. "Our priority is to protect minors and allow them to navigate safely online. Together with the digital service coordinators in the member states we are determined to tackle any potential harm to young online users," EU digital tsar Henna Virkkunen said. - Protecting children - The EU also said it would remove Stripchat from the list of "very large" platforms since it now had fewer than 45 million monthly active users on average, with its probe to focus on the period when it fell under its purview. Brussels noted that the launch of formal proceedings did not prejudge the investigation's outcome, and that there was no deadline for its completion. Violations, if proven, risk fines of up to six percent of a firm's global turnover. Platforms found guilty of serious and repeated violations can also be banned from operating in Europe. The EU in parallel has invited the public including parents to help prepare guidelines for the protection of children online, and it is developing an age-verification app. The DSA, which has a wide remit, sits within the EU's powerful legal weaponry to regulate Big Tech. Brussels has opened a wave of probes under the DSA since 2023 including into Meta's Facebook and Instagram as well as TikTok and Elon Musk's X social media platform.
Indian Express
21 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
EU investigates four major porn sites under bloc's digital rules on child protection
European Union regulators said Tuesday they're investigating four major porn websites over suspicions that they've breached the bloc's online content rules that include provisions for protecting children from pornographic material. The European Commission, the EU's executive branch, said it has opened formal proceedings against Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX and XVideos under the 27-nation bloc's Digital Safety Act. The sweeping rulebook, also known as the DSA, requires internet companies and online platforms to do more to protect users under threat of hefty fines worth up to 6% of annual global revenue. The commission said protecting young users online is one of the DSA's priorities and it will now carry out an in-depth investigation into the companies 'as a matter of priority.' The investigation will focus on the risks to protection of minors, including dangers associated with the lack of effective age verification measures. It said the porn sites have failed to put in place 'appropriate and proportionate measures' to a high level safety and security for minors, especially when it comes to age verification tools designed to prevent minors from getting to adult content. The sites also lack 'risk assessment and mitigation measures' of any negative effects, including on users mental and physical well-being, the commission said. Pornhub, XNXX, Stripchat and XVideos were classed as 'very large online platforms' that face the highest level of scrutiny under the DSA. However the commission said it granted Stripchat's request to be removed from the list because it didn't have enough users. Pornhub's parent company Aylo said it's aware of the investigation and is 'fully committed' to ensuring online safety of minors. 'We will always comply with the law, but we hope that governments around the world will implement laws that protect the safety and security of users,' the company said in a statement. Aylo said that 'the real solution for protecting minors and adults alike' is to verify users' ages with individual devices rather than having websites do it. XNXX, Stripchat and XVideos didn't respond to requests for comment. 'The online space should be a safe environment for children to learn and connect. Our priority is to protect minors and allow them to navigate safely online,' Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's executive vice president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy, said in a statement. Officials said the EU is also working on its own age-verification app that online platforms can use to verify if a user is over the age of 18, without revealing any other personal information. It will be available by the summer. The investigation comes after the commission held a public consultation on draft online children protection measures that included proposals for age verification and 'age estimation' methods to block young people from inappropriate content. Along with the bloc-wide scrutiny of big sites, smaller porn platforms will also face supervision from individual EU member countries's digital regulators, the Commission said.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
EU investigates four pornography platforms over risks to children
The EU launched an investigation on Tuesday into four pornographic platforms over suspicions they are failing to stop children accessing adult content in breach of the bloc's strict digital content law. The European Commission said its investigations into Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX and XVideos "focus on the risks for the protection of minors, including those linked to the absence of effective age verification measures". The commission, the European Union's tech regulator, accused the platforms of not having "appropriate" age verification tools to prevent children from being exposed to porn. An AFP correspondent had only to click a button on Tuesday stating they were older than 18, without any further checks, to gain access to each of the four platforms. The commission found that the four platforms did not have "appropriate and proportionate measures to ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security for minors". They also did not have measures in place to prevent negative effects on children as well as users' mental and physical well-being, the commission said. "Online platforms must ensure that the rights and best interests of children are central to the design and functioning of their services," it added. Pornhub's parent company Aylo said it was "fully committed to ensuring the safety of minors online", adding that "We will always comply with the law." The EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) forces the world's biggest tech companies to do more to protect European users online and has strict rules to safeguard children and ensure their privacy and security. Under the law, "very large" online platforms with at least 45 million monthly active users in the EU have even greater obligations, and they are regulated by the commission rather than national authorities. Fearful over children's access to adult content, the commission said it would work with national authorities to make sure smaller porn platforms apply the same rules. "Our priority is to protect minors and allow them to navigate safely online. Together with the digital service coordinators in the member states we are determined to tackle any potential harm to young online users," EU digital tsar Henna Virkkunen said. The EU also said it would remove Stripchat from the list of "very large" platforms since it now had fewer than 45 million monthly active users on average, with its probe to focus on the period when it fell under its purview. Brussels noted that the launch of formal proceedings did not prejudge the investigation's outcome, and that there was no deadline for its completion. Violations, if proven, risk fines of up to six percent of a firm's global turnover. Platforms found guilty of serious and repeated violations can also be banned from operating in Europe. The EU in parallel has invited the public including parents to help prepare guidelines for the protection of children online, and it is developing an age-verification app. The DSA, which has a wide remit, sits within the EU's powerful legal weaponry to regulate Big Tech. Brussels has opened a wave of probes under the DSA since 2023 including into Meta's Facebook and Instagram as well as TikTok and Elon Musk's X social media platform.
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Porn sites to be investigated for failing to comply with rules to protect children
Adult content platforms Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX and XVideos will be investigated for failing to comply with rules to protect children, EU regulators said yesterday, in a move that could lead to fines of as much as 6pc of their global annual turnover. The European Commission said the companies had not complied with the Digital Services Act, which requires them to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content on their platforms following their designation as very large online platforms in 2023.
The Hill
a day ago
- Business
- The Hill
House AI regulation ban divides GOP
The Big Story House Republicans pushed forward last week with a bid to ban state regulation of artificial intelligence (AI), sparking debate among the tech community and lawmakers over its implications for the emerging tech. © Greg Nash The proposal passed the House on Thursday morning as part of a sweeping tax and spending bill. Now, it faces an uphill battle in the Senate in the wake of procedural rules and potential resistance from some GOP senators. The proposal, tucked into President Trump's 'one big, beautiful bill,' calls for a 10-year moratorium on state laws regulating AI models, systems or automated decision systems. This includes enforcement of existing and future laws on the state level. Proponents of the moratorium argue a patchwork of state laws can be confusing or burdensome for technology companies to follow when operating in multiple parts of the country. 'Right now, there are over a thousand bills on the topic of AI regulation pending in state legislatures across the country,' Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) said during the House Energy and Commerce Committee's markup of the measure. 'Imagine how difficult it would be for a federal agency that operates in all 50 states to have to navigate this labyrinth of regulation when we potentially have 50 different states going 50 different directions on the topic of AI regulation,' Obernolte adding, referring to the ongoing push to incorporate AI into federal agencies. 'This is exactly the same circumstances that we are putting private industry in as they attempt to deploy AI,' he added. The bill includes some exemptions for states' enforcement of laws focused on promoting AI development. This includes regulations that seek to remove barriers or facilitate the use of AI models and systems or those focused on streamlining processes like licensing or permitting to help AI adoption. The push aligns with the Trump administration's broader pro-innovation agenda that prioritizes technology development over regulations that hamper U.S. innovation and competitiveness. Check out the full report at tomorrow. Welcome to The Hill's Technology newsletter, I'm Julia Shapero — tracking the latest moves from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads How policy will be impacting the tech sector now and in the future: Pornhub, XVideos face EU probe over child protections The European Commission announced Tuesday that it is investigating a handful of pornographic platforms in an effort to protect minors from harmful online content. Those found in violation could face a significant fine. The commission is launching investigations into Pornhub, XVideos, Stripchat and XNXX to assess the age verification measures to prevent minors from accessing the site. It is also looking at how the sites evaluate … Republicans face a future without Elon Musk's money Tech billionaire Elon Musk is prompting questions about his next steps as he signals he might wind down his political activity. Last week, the Tesla CEO said he's planning to scale back his spending after injecting hundreds of millions of dollars into the 2024 election, a big potential blow for GOP campaign coffers moving forward. The announcement comes as Musk also cools his involvement in the Trump White House to turn more … California Dem blasts FCC's delay of multilingual disaster alerts California Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D) on Monday blasted the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over a delay in multilingual disaster alerts. At the beginning of the year, the FCC pledged to implement an order requiring wireless providers to distribute emergency alters in the 13 most commonly spoken languages in the U.S. in addition to English and American Sign Language. However, four months later, citizens are still … Crypto investor accused of torturing man for access to Bitcoin password A cryptocurrency investor is facing charges of kidnapping and assault after officials alleged he tortured another man for weeks while demanding information to access their Bitcoin. John Woeltz, a 37-year-old man, pleaded not guilty Saturday to the charges he faces, including kidnapping with intent to collect ransom, assault with intent to cause physical injury, unlawful imprisonment and criminal possession of a firearm. … {{if !contains( Report')} {/if}}{{if !contains( Report')} {/if}} The Refresh News we've flagged from the intersection of tech and other topics: The Hill Jobs Interested in exploring a new career? Visit The Hill Jobs Board to discover millions of roles worldwide, including: Director of Government Affairs — The Ford Agency, Washington, D.C. Apply Executive Director — Office of Legislative Management, Hartford, Conn. Apply Director, Policy, Research and Analysis — ADVI Health, Washington, D.C. Apply Senior Policy Specialist — Arnold Porter, Washington, D.C. Apply Click here to get your job mentioned Crypto Corner Trump Media's bitcoin moves © Yuki Iwamura, Bloomberg via Getty Images Welcome to Crypto Corner, a daily feature focused on digital currency and its outlook in Washington. Trump Media and Technology Group, the company behind President Trump's Truth Social platform, is making a new foray into the crypto world. The company announced Tuesday that it plans to raise $2.5 billion to buy bitcoin and build up a reserve. Some 50 investors will buy $1.5 billion in Trump Media stock and $1 billion in company notes to help raise the funds to create a bitcoin treasury, according to a press release. 'It's a big step forward in the Company's plans to evolve into a holding company by acquiring additional profit-generating, crown jewel assets consistent with America First principles,' Trump Media CEO Devin Nunes said in a statement. Trump Media, which initially launched with a focus on building out the president's social media platform, has increasingly sought to expand its financial offerings, with a particular eye toward digital assets. In March, the company unveiled a partnership with to launch a series of exchange traded funds (ETFs), set to comprise digital assets and securities 'with a Made in America focus.' Other firms associated with the president and his family have also expanded their ties to the crypto industry in recent months, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and complicating the administration's efforts to pass long-sought crypto legislation. In Other News Branch out with other reads on The Hill: Mysterious sphere in Colombia sparks UFO talk Scientists in Mexico are reportedly studying a metal orb that they think could have extraterrestrial origins after it was recovered in Colombia earlier this year, piquing online interest of a potential unidentified flying object (UFO). The sphere marked with decorative etchings was filmed floating erratically through the sky before it crashed near Buga, Colombia, in March and captured the attention of UFO enthusiasts. A video … What Others are Reading Two key stories on The Hill right now: Tuberville to run for governor, leave Senate Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) on Tuesday announced he was running for governor with the launch of his campaign website, creating an open GOP primary … Read more GOP fears Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' is 'debt bomb' The fiscal impact of President Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,' which one prominent budget hawk called a 'debt bomb,' is becoming a significant … Read more What Others are Reading Opinions related to tech submitted to The Hill: You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!
