The European Commission has issued a directive to three major pornography websites—Pornhub, XVideos, and Stripchat—requiring them to disclose details on their child protection measures under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

These companies have until July 4 to provide comprehensive compliance information, focusing on how they are safeguarding minors and combating gender-based violence on their platforms.

The directive is part of the European Union’s broader initiative under the Digital Services Act, which sets stringent requirements for internet safety and the protection of users. These sites have been classified as “very large online platforms” due to their significant user base, each averaging 45 million monthly visitors. This classification subjects them to enhanced scrutiny and compliance obligations.

“The Commission is requesting the companies to provide more detailed information on the measures they have taken to diligently assess and mitigate risks related to the protection of minors online, as well as to prevent the amplification of illegal content and gender-based violence,” stated the European Commission on Thursday.

The Commission is specifically interested in understanding the safeguards implemented to ensure that users are of legal age. Currently, many pornographic sites rely on a simple age verification method, such as a checkbox stating the user is 18 or over. The EU aims to see more robust measures, potentially including age verification via credit cards, government-issued IDs, or biometric scans.

Additionally, the companies are being asked to outline how they have adjusted their internal structures to align with the DSA’s requirements.

“The DSA indeed requires designated very large online platforms to equip themselves with independent and well-resourced internal teams with sufficient authority and resources, as well as access to the management body,” the Commission clarified.

Pornhub has previously contested its designation as a very large online platform, arguing that its average monthly user count is 33 million, not 45 million. This dispute underscores ongoing debates over the classification and regulation of digital services.

The move by the EU aligns with similar legislative efforts in various countries. France, Germany, Britain, and U.S. states, including Utah and Texas, have proposed laws mandating age verification for pornographic sites. These proposals typically suggest methods such as credit card verification, government ID checks, or biometric scans, although they have raised significant concerns about privacy and potential discrimination.

The Digital Services Act also seeks to mitigate the spread of illegal content, including child sexual abuse material and non-consensual content like deepfakes. The EU’s digital regulations aim to protect fundamental rights and privacy while ensuring that online platforms are not complicit in the dissemination of harmful content.