The European Commission has accused four leading pornographic websites—Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX and XVideos—of not doing enough to prevent minors from accessing adult material, opening the door to possible heavy fines under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).
In preliminary findings, EU officials said the platforms allowed children to register and view explicit content with minimal safeguards, often relying only on a one‑click confirmation that users are over 18. The Commission argues this weak verification system fails to protect children’s rights and well‑being and may breach the DSA’s obligation to detect and mitigate systemic risks to minors.
At the same time, the Commission has launched a separate investigation into Snapchat, marking the first DSA case opened against the social‑media app. Regulators want to determine whether Snapchat exposed underage users to risks such as online grooming, sexual exploitation and content linked to illegal activities, including drug sales.
Snapchat said in a statement that user safety remains a top priority. “As online risks evolve, we continuously review, strengthen, and invest in these safeguards,” a company spokesperson said, adding that the firm has “fully cooperated with the Commission” and will continue adapting its tools and policies to meet EU regulatory standards.
The moves come as European regulators intensify scrutiny of large online platforms over child safety, age verification, content moderation and digital responsibility across social media, porn, and other high‑risk services.
