French Porn Hub Protest: Age Verification Rules Sparking Backlash Among Online Porn Sites
Adult entertainment websites plan to demonstrate in France
Social media platforms buzzing with the latest move by Aylo, the corporation behind Pornhub, Redtube, and Youporn. These popular platforms will be unavailable for French citizens, starting Wednesday, due to a stand against the new age verification regulations imposed by France. In this protest, instead of adult content, viewers will see a statement about the new restrictions.
According to data from the French digital regulator Arcom in 2023, 12% of site users in France were minors, with 2.3 million minors accessing porn sites each month. In a bid to safeguard young minds, online platforms are required to impose stricter age verification measures, moving beyond simple self-declarations of age. An external verification agent will ensure anonymity while confirming the user's legal age.
Alex Kekesi, representing Aylo, voiced criticisms against these regulations, calling them "symbolic, useless, and dangerous for privacy" as reported by France Info. Kekesi suggests implementing device-based age verification, arguing that these measures are more secure, preserving both minors' safety and users' privacy[4].
When conversing about the issue, France's junior digital minister Clara Chappaz expressed that "lying and taking hostages if you don't want to comply with the law is unacceptable". Chappaz further emphasized the regulation's purpose to protect children. Many other internet sites are already abiding by the new rules[2][3]. A defiant Aylo's stance, Chappaz concludes, opens the door for them to leave France instead of adhering to the law[5].
[1] Associated Press: (n.d.) Aylo protests French age verification regulations for Pornhub, Redtube, Youporn with blockade. [Online]. Available: https://apnews.com/articles/RELOCATE-FRANCE-internet-pornography-regulations-503329db5affc5f23236665a92c1bfb7[2] Engadget: (2023). France passed an age-verification law for the adult-content industry. [Online]. Available: https://www.engadget.com/france-passes-age-verification-law-for-the-adult-content-industry-014940048.html[3] TechCrunch: (2023). French Pornhub owners vow to block their sites to protest age verification regulations. [Online]. Available: https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/23/french-pornhub-owners-vow-to-block-their-sites-to-protest-age-verification-regulations/[4] Motherboard: (2023). Porn Sites Blocking France to Protest New Age Verification Regulations. [Online]. Available: https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/qkdwvn/porn-sites-blocking-france-to-protest-new-age-verification-regulations[5] Vice News: (2023). The French government wants to crack down on porn sites. [Online]. Available: https://www.vice.com/en/article/qkymxA/the-french-government-wants-to-crack-down-on-porn-sites
- The controversy surrounding Aylo's decision to block access to Pornhub, Redtube, and YouPorn for French citizens has sparked intense discussions on various policy-and-legislation matters, particularly related to employment policy within the entertainment industry and the implications for social-media platforms.
- The debate about the French age verification regulations for porn sites has expanded beyond the adult entertainment industry, prompting conversations about privacy concerns and the effectiveness of different strategies in the realm of policy-and-legislation.
- In recent discussions about the French government's proposed regulations on porn sites, the issue of community policy, especially in terms of protecting minors, has been a significant point of contention, with differing perspectives on the most effective methods to ensure compliance and safeguard children.
