Pornhub, XVideos, Stripchat face these EU deadlines next week

Under the European Union ’s new regulations for online content, known as the Digital Services Act (DSA), adult entertainment platforms Pornhub , Stripchat , and XVideos are required to conduct risk assessments and implement strategies to mitigate systemic risks associated with their services. The European Commission announced these requirements, emphasizing the need for these platforms to adhere to stringent measures aimed at curbing illegal and harmful content online.

What are the deadlines for Pornhub, Stripchat, and XVideos
Designated as “very large online platforms” in December, these companies fall under the DSA’s purview, which mandates enhanced efforts to eliminate unlawful content from their sites. The deadlines for compliance with the DSA’s rigorous standards are set for April 21 for Pornhub and Stripchat, and April 23 for XVideos, as stated by the EU executive body.

The obligations under the DSA include the submission of risk assessment reports to the Commission and the establishment of countermeasures to address systemic risks inherent in their service offerings. Additionally, these companies are expected to fulfill extra transparency requirements, such as those pertaining to advertising, and to grant researchers access to their data.

Failure to comply with the DSA could result in substantial penalties for these companies, with fines reaching up to 6% of their global annual revenue.

Earlier this year, Pornhub announced that it officially pulled out of two more states in the US -- Mississippi and Virginia – to protest the states’ recently-enacted age verification laws. The company says that the states’ claims create business and privacy issues for the website.

The laws in the states of Virginia and Mississippi require porn sites to verify users’ age beyond a simple checkmark of “Are You 18+?”.