EU demands adult content platforms to assess risks

Three major adult content platforms, Pornhub, Stripchat, and XVideos, are required to conduct risk assessments and implement measures to address systemic risks associated with their services under new EU online content rules announced by the European Commission. These companies were classified as very large online platforms in December under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which demands heightened efforts to remove illegal and harmful content from their platforms.

The EU executive specified that Pornhub and Stripchat must comply with these rigorous DSA obligations by 21 April, while XVideos has until 23 April to do the same. These obligations include submitting risk assessment reports to the Commission and implementing mitigation measures to tackle systemic risks linked to their services. Additionally, the platforms are expected to adhere to transparency requirements related to advertisements and provide researchers with data access.

Failure to comply with the DSA regulations could lead to significant penalties, with companies facing fines of up to 6% of their global annual turnover for breaches. The European Commission’s actions underscore its commitment to ensuring that large online platforms take proactive steps to address illegal and harmful content, particularly within the context of adult content services. These measures are part of broader efforts to enhance online safety and accountability across digital platforms operating within the EU.