Adult Websites Resume Operations in France Following Court Ruling

Access to popular adult websites such as Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube has been reinstated in France by the Canadian media and IT company Aylo. This decision comes after the company previously took these sites offline to protest against a new French law mandating adult website operators to implement robust age verification systems (AVS) to restrict access for users under 18 years old.

According to Aylo, the restoration of access follows a ruling from a Paris administrative court that suspended the enforcement of this law. The court determined that local authorities could not impose such requirements on companies based in other EU member states. As a result, the obligations for age verification have been temporarily lifted. Aylo's European headquarters is located in Cyprus.

The case is now expected to be reviewed by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which will assess whether the age verification requirement complies with EU law. The central issue will revolve around the country of origin principle established by the E-Commerce Directive of 2002, which states that an EU country cannot regulate a company based in another member state without going through a formal process that includes notifying the home country and the European Commission.

In a statement regarding the ruling, Aylo emphasized the importance of protecting minors from accessing adult content while also safeguarding the privacy and sensitive data of users. The company advocates for a more effective global age verification system that operates at the device and operating system level, rather than being limited to specific websites.

In response to the court's decision, the French government has expressed its intention to appeal, reiterating the necessity of protecting minors from harmful content online. Additionally, President Emmanuel Macron and Digital Minister Clara Chappaz have called for a Europe-wide age limit of 15 years for social media usage. Other European nations, including Germany and the UK, are also pursuing stricter regulations on adult content online.

In Germany, for example, the Commission for Youth Media Protection (KJM) is advocating for age verification systems, while activists argue that such requirements could be considered reckless and infringe on fundamental rights. A recent study indicated that while age verification is essential, implementing it effectively within democratic frameworks poses significant challenges. Furthermore, access to Pornhub and YouPorn in Germany remains restricted due to decisions made by local administrative courts.

During the period when Pornhub and YouPorn were offline in France, VPN services reported a surge in user numbers as individuals sought workarounds to access the blocked sites.