The European Union Designates Porn Sites as Very Large Online Platforms

The European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) has officially designated popular pornography sites Pornhub, XVideos, and Stripchat as “Very Large Online Platforms” (VLOPs). This designation comes with stricter requirements for age verification and content moderation. In addition to verifying user ages, these sites will be required to conduct risk assessments and combat the spread of illegal content, such as child sexual abuse material and deepfake pornography. This move aims to increase scrutiny and accountability for these platforms’ algorithms and processes.

The European Commission announced the designation of Pornhub, XVideos, and Stripchat as VLOPs due to their high user numbers. These platforms have an average of 45 million monthly users in the European Union, meeting the threshold for VLOP classification. This is the first time that pornography-specific services have been included in the list of VLOPs, which previously consisted of platforms like Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Twitter.

The inclusion of Pornhub as a VLOP is particularly noteworthy, as the company’s reported 33 million monthly users have been called into question. The European Commission does not trust the platform’s self-reported numbers, especially considering its two billion monthly visits according to traffic analysis from SimilarWeb. This discrepancy raises concerns about the platform’s transparency and its attempts to evade responsibility for the risks associated with its content.

Civil rights groups and NGOs have long been advocating for stricter regulations on major pornography platforms. These organizations, including European Digital Rights, the Center of Democracy and Technology, and the European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance, wrote an open letter urging the designation of pornography sites as VLOPs. They criticized the platforms for presenting misleading user numbers to avoid taking on their responsibilities. This designation is a step towards holding these platforms accountable for the risks present on their platforms.

The designation of these pornography sites as VLOPs aligns with global efforts to enforce stricter age verification measures. Various US states have attempted to age-gate these platforms, with varying levels of success. France, Germany, and the UK have also taken steps to regulate age verification at the national level. The UK, in particular, recently passed its Online Safety Act to address this issue. The EU’s designation of VLOPs further emphasizes the importance of age verification in protecting minors from accessing explicit content.

DSA Regulations for All Platforms

While VLOPs face the strictest regulations under the DSA, all online platforms and search engines must adhere to a general set of rules. These rules include providing a mechanism for users to report illegal content and avoiding targeted advertising based on sensitive data like ethnic origin or sexual orientation. The DSA aims to create a safer digital environment by holding platforms accountable for their content and data practices.

Some companies designated as VLOPs have challenged their classification and pushed back against the strict regulations. Amazon and German online retailer Zalando have both questioned their inclusion on the list of VLOPs. However, EU regulators have been proactive in enforcing the DSA rules since the Act came into effect for the initial batch of VLOPs. Meta and TikTok have faced formal requests for information regarding their handling of illegal content and disinformation related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Additionally, formal proceedings have been opened against X (formerly known as Twitter) to assess potential breaches of the DSA.

The European Union’s designation of Pornhub, XVideos, and Stripchat as VLOPs marks a significant step towards ensuring stricter age verification and content moderation on these platforms. By designating them as VLOPs, the EU aims to increase the scrutiny and accountability of their algorithms and processes. As global efforts for age verification continue, it is crucial for online platforms to prioritize the safety and well-being of their users, particularly when it comes to explicit content and protecting minors.