The European Commission has formally launched investigations into four major adult content platforms—Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos—for allegedly failing to comply with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), a sweeping online content regulation that came into force in 2023. The platforms are now under scrutiny for not implementing adequate measures to shield minors from explicit material, raising the possibility of heavy financial penalties.

According to a statement released on Tuesday, EU regulators believe these platforms did not adopt the mandatory safeguards required under the DSA, such as effective age verification mechanisms and thorough risk assessments concerning child safety. The law mandates that very large online platforms—defined as those with over 45 million monthly users in the EU—must take proactive steps to protect children and address illegal and harmful content on their services.

If the companies are found to have violated the law, they could each face fines amounting to up to 6% of their global annual revenue.

EU Raises the Alarm on Child Safety

At the heart of the probe is the EU’s growing concern over children’s exposure to explicit material online. Henna Virkkunen, the EU’s digital affairs chief, emphasized that online environments must be made safer for younger users. “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,” she stated in the official release.

The Commission argues that these adult platforms have not fulfilled the DSA’s requirement to perform robust risk assessments on the potential harms their services pose to minors. These platforms also allegedly failed to introduce sufficient mitigation strategies, such as preventing underage access to pornographic material through secure, verifiable age-checking systems.

Companies Under Investigation

The four companies named in the investigation operate some of the world’s most visited adult sites:

• Pornhub is owned by Aylo Freesites Ltd, a Cyprus-based firm previously known under the MindGeek umbrella.

• XNXX and XVideos are owned by Czech-based companies NKL Associates and WebGroup Czech Republic, respectively.

• Stripchat is operated by Technius Ltd, another company registered in Cyprus.

All four were designated in 2023 as “very large online platforms” under the DSA, meaning they fall under the EU’s strictest tier of regulatory obligations. This classification imposes specific duties regarding systemic risk management, transparency, and user safety.

However, the Commission also noted that Stripchat’s user base has dropped below the DSA threshold, and thus, it will lose its “very large” platform status in four months. Despite this change, the company still faces investigation for actions (or inaction) taken while it was under stricter regulatory scrutiny.

The Digital Services Act: Europe’s Big Tech Crackdown

The Digital Services Act represents one of the most ambitious regulatory efforts in the EU’s recent history, aiming to create a safer and more accountable online environment. Passed in 2022 and implemented in 2023, the law requires tech companies and content platforms to identify, assess, and mitigate systemic risks—including those related to child exploitation, misinformation, and illegal activity.

For adult websites, this means deploying robust systems to verify users’ ages, moderate illegal content, and limit exposure of minors to inappropriate materials. The failure to act in these areas can lead to extensive fines, transparency orders, or even restrictions on how services are offered in the EU.

The European Commission’s actions signal its intent to treat the adult content industry with the same scrutiny applied to mainstream tech giants such as Meta, Google, and TikTok.

Coordinated Action Beyond the Major Players

Alongside its formal probe into the four largest platforms, the EU executive branch announced that it will coordinate with national authorities to address smaller adult websites operating within the bloc. These smaller platforms, though not designated as “very large” under the DSA, are still subject to basic compliance rules aimed at protecting users, particularly minors.

This parallel initiative aims to ensure that the entire adult entertainment sector—not just its most prominent players—is held accountable for safeguarding children and upholding digital rights.

Industry Backlash and Legal Uncertainty

The investigation is expected to face pushback from the adult entertainment industry, which has historically raised concerns about privacy, feasibility, and legal consistency when it comes to implementing age verification.

Critics argue that overly stringent verification tools may compromise user anonymity or lead to censorship-like outcomes, while others warn of potential conflicts between EU law and national legislation in member states. However, EU officials insist that protecting children online outweighs any such complications.

Already, similar debates have erupted in countries like France and the United Kingdom, where lawmakers are also pursuing aggressive measures to limit underage access to pornography. The EU’s investigation could strengthen momentum for unified age verification standards across Europe.

What Happens Next?

The European Commission has not provided a definitive timeline for the conclusion of the investigation. However, under DSA procedures, the companies involved will be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations, present evidence of compliance, or propose remedial measures.

If EU regulators confirm violations, they may issue binding orders, impose significant monetary penalties, or demand structural changes in how the platforms operate within the EU.

Conclusion

The European Commission’s decision to formally investigate Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos marks a decisive moment in the enforcement of the Digital Services Act. As the EU pushes for stronger online protections for children, adult content platforms are now under intense pressure to revamp their safety protocols or risk major penalties.

By targeting both large and small platforms, the EU is signaling a broad crackdown on the adult industry’s approach to digital responsibility. The outcome of these investigations could set a significant precedent—not just for pornography websites, but for all digital platforms that operate within Europe’s regulatory landscape.