France: Lawsuit challenging decree requiring age verification for adult content websites (Hammy Media LTD v French Authorities)

Progress

Current status
in force
15 Jul 2025 in force
18 Jun 2025 under appeal
16 Jun 2025 under investigation

Scope

Implementers
France
Policy Area
Consumer protection
Policy Instrument
Age verification requirement
Regulated Economic Activity
platform intermediary: user-generated content
Government Branch
judiciary
executive
Government Body
court
central government
Implementation Level
national

Timeline of events

15 Jul 2025
in force

Council of State ruling on Interministerial order of 26 February 2025 on the application of age verification obligations under the SREN Law (Decision No. 505472)

On 15 July 2025, the Council of State in Decision No. 505472, rejected the request to suspend the interministerial order of 26 February 2025 that imposed an obligation on certain pornographic content services established in other Member States of th…

Source
Event type public lawsuit
Action type ruling
Government branch judiciary
Government body court
18 Jun 2025
under appeal

French authorities announced appeal to Council of State against court decision suspending age verification decree (Hammy Media LTD v French Authorities)

On 18 June 2025, the Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs announced that the French authorities will appeal the decision of the Paris Administrative Court dated 16 June 2025. The appeal will be lodged before the Council …

Source
Event type public lawsuit
Action type appeal
Government branch executive
Government body central government
16 Jun 2025
under investigation

Paris Administrative Court issued interim ruling suspending application of decree requiring age verification (Hammy Media LTD v French Authorities)

On 16 June 2025, the Paris Administrative Court ordered the suspension of the application of the decree dated 26 February 2025, which introduced mandatory age verification for accessing pornographic content online. The ruling, issued pending a final…

Source
Event type public lawsuit
Action type interim ruling
Government branch judiciary
Government body court