Latest news with #XNXX
Engadget
05-08-2025
- Business
- Engadget
Florida is suing several porn companies over age verification
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has sued multiple pornography platforms on allegations that they fall afoul of age verification laws. The state passed HB 3 in March 2024 and the law took effect in January 2025. HB 3 placed new requirements on services to confirm the ages of their users if they contain "material harmful to minors" and to ensure nobody younger than 18 accesses their content. The lawsuit today targets the companies behind several porn sites, including XVideos, XNXX, BangBros and Girls Gone Wild, as well as adult advertising network Traffic Factory. "We are taking legal action against these online pornographers who are willfully preying on the innocence of children for their financial gain," Uthmeier said. Although today's lawsuit focuses on pornography providers, many of the provisions in HB 3 also center on teen use of social media. In June, a judge temporarily blocked the law after NetChoice and the Computer and Communications Industry Association — groups representing several social media platforms — sought a preliminary injunction. Uthmeier has appealed that injunction to the Eleventh Circuit. Yahoo, the parent company of Engadget, is a member of NetChoice.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
You won't believe where Pornhub and XNXX are based; and why the EU is coming for them
You won't believe where Pornhub and XNXX are based; and why the EU Is coming for them In an unprecedented move reflecting rising global concern over online child safety, the European Union has officially launched a formal investigation into several major adult content websites, including Pornhub , XNXX , XVideos , and Stripchat . These platforms, some of the most visited websites in the world, are now under scrutiny for allegedly failing to comply with key provisions of the EU's landmark Digital Services Act (DSA). At the heart of the investigation is a single but vital issue: safeguarding children from exposure to explicit adult material online. As internet access becomes more ubiquitous and younger demographics increasingly consume content on digital platforms, regulatory bodies across the globe are tightening rules around content moderation, age verification, and online harm mitigation. The EU's inquiry signals a pivotal shift in how mature content is regulated in cyberspace, especially with respect to child protection standards. The European Commission has accused these adult platforms of neglecting their legal obligations, particularly around effective age verification and risk assessments, setting the stage for a landmark regulatory showdown that could reshape the adult industry's digital infrastructure. Why the EU is investigating Pornhub, XVideos, XNXX, and Stripchat The European Commission announced on June 1, 2025, that it had initiated formal proceedings against four high-profile adult content platforms. The accused—Pornhub, XNXX, XVideos, and Stripchat—are suspected of violating the Digital Services Act (DSA), the EU's sweeping legislation aimed at creating a safer and more transparent digital ecosystem. Key allegations include: Failure to implement age verification tools : The platforms allegedly lack robust mechanisms to verify the age of their users, making it possible for minors to access explicit material without restriction. Inadequate risk assessments : Under the DSA, very large online platforms (VLOPs) are required to conduct detailed risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies to protect fundamental rights, especially the rights of minors. Poor transparency and governance : Regulators are also probing whether these companies have failed to provide transparent information about their policies, algorithms, and content moderation strategies. As reported by The Economic Times, according to Henna Virkkunen, the EU's chief of digital policy, "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." Understanding the Digital Services Act and its requirements Enacted in 2022 and fully enforceable as of 2024, the Digital Services Act (DSA) is one of the most comprehensive digital laws in the world. It applies to all digital services operating in the EU but places additional responsibilities on companies classified as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs)—defined as those with more than 45 million monthly active users in the EU. Core DSA requirements include: Risk assessments : Platforms must assess systemic risks related to disinformation, child safety, gender-based violence, and more. Mitigation measures : Businesses are required to implement proportionate mitigation strategies based on their risk evaluations. Transparency reporting : Regular reports must be submitted detailing how harmful or illegal content is being handled. Independent audits : Annual external audits are mandated to ensure compliance with DSA obligations. Age-appropriate design : Platforms are expected to make their services safe for children, including mechanisms to prevent underage access to adult content. Where are Pornhub, Stripchat, XVideos, and XNXX based While these platforms operate globally, their corporate registrations are primarily in EU member states or nearby countries, allowing the EU regulatory framework to apply with direct jurisdiction: Pornhub: Operated by Aylo Freesites Ltd., a Cyprus-based firm. Stripchat: Owned by Technius Ltd., also based in Cyprus. XVideos: Operated under the Czech company WebGroup Czech Republic. XNXX: Owned by another Czech entity, NKL Associates. Their physical and legal presence within EU territories grants the European Commission direct leverage in enforcing compliance with the Digital Services Act. Consequences if found in violation Should the investigation conclude that these platforms are in breach of the DSA, the consequences could be severe. The most significant penalty available to the European Commission is a fine of up to 6% of the company's global annual revenue. Given the massive user bases and significant revenue streams of these sites, such fines could amount to hundreds of millions of euros. Beyond financial penalties, the EU could also impose: Mandatory operational changes : Including the integration of stronger age-gating technology. Temporary platform restrictions : In extreme cases, non-compliant services could face temporary access blocks within EU member states. Public naming and shaming : As part of transparency efforts, the Commission may publish compliance failures to increase reputational pressure. Stripchat's status downgraded Interestingly, one of the four platforms—Stripchat—is now on track to lose its classification as a VLOP. According to the Commission, its average monthly EU user count dropped below the 45 million threshold, and the platform will be officially delisted from the DSA's VLOP registry in four months. However, this does not exempt it from basic DSA obligations or from ongoing investigations related to its past performance while still classified as a VLOP. Industry response and public backlash As of now, the adult platforms in question have not issued comprehensive public responses. However, legal experts anticipate a strong pushback grounded in arguments related to technical feasibility, user privacy, and the limits of platform liability. Meanwhile, child safety advocacy groups have welcomed the probe. 'The industry has operated in a legal grey zone for too long,' said a spokesperson from the European Alliance for Child Protection Online. 'This is a necessary and long-overdue step to hold platforms accountable.' Public opinion remains mixed. While many support stronger child protection online, some privacy advocates warn that overly aggressive age verification systems could compromise user anonymity and personal freedoms. A turning point for online adult content regulation This investigation could serve as a precedent-setting case for how the world's largest adult content websites are held accountable in democratic societies. As global governments increasingly prioritize digital safety, particularly for children, the EU's firm stance may push other jurisdictions—such as the United States, Canada, and Australia—to introduce or tighten similar frameworks. Notably, the UK's Online Safety Act has also introduced similar rules requiring pornographic websites to enforce age verification. Australia is conducting public consultations on age verification technology, while some U.S. states like Utah and Louisiana have passed laws mandating proof of age to access adult material. 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Indian Express
28-05-2025
- 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.
Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- 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.
Bloomberg
27-05-2025
- General
- Bloomberg
PornHub Among Adult Sites Probed by EU on Child Safety Fears
The European Union has started a probe into adult video platforms PornHub, Stripchat, XNXX and XVideos based on concerns over child protection. The EU's executive arm opened formal proceedings that alleged the four websites failed to take actions to protect minors from accessing pornography, including the use of age-verification mechanisms, required by the Digital Services Act. The European Commission said in a statement Tuesday that it will collect evidence and responses from the companies over the next few months.
