Paris Court of Appeals Orders Age Checks for Non-EU Porn Websites

PARIS—A French Court of Appeals in Paris ruled Thursday that certain adult entertainment websites are subject to a national age verification requirement adopted under a 2020 French law meant to counter domestic violence.  Websites that don't operate in European Union member states are subject to the appeal court’s ruling. Websites like Tukif, xHamster, MrSexe, and IciPorno, all non-EU platforms, must adopt more rigorous age verification measures within 15 days or be blocked throughout France’s national digital space.  Platforms like Pornhub are currently beholden to the ongoing litigation in the courts of the European Union, where they are presently challenging Digital Services Act rules.  According to the Paris court, it considers age verification of potential users under the age of 18 a necessary measure that supersedes the privacy rights and right to access for adult users.  AVN also reported on a national age verification requirement granting Arcom, the audiovisual regulator for France, the right to enforce age-gating rules.