European Union: European Commission opened formal proceedings against Pornhub under the Digital Services Act concerning minor protection

On 27 May 2025, the European Commission opened formal proceedings against Pornhub under the Digital Services Act (DSA), based on suspected violations related to the protection of minors. The investigation concerns the alleged failure to implement effective age verification tools and adequate measures to assess and mitigate risks to the rights and well-being of minors. The Commission will assess whether Pornhub has complied with its DSA obligations to prevent minors from accessing pornographic content and to ensure a high level of privacy and safety for young users. The proceedings were initiated following the platform’s 2024 risk assessment submissions as well as the response to the request for information issued on 13 June 2024.