How can minors be prevented from accessing sensitive content such as pornographic websites? This thorny issue has been a persistent challenge for France and Europe, which are exploring solutions. A new measure is on the horizon: an age verification application set to launch this summer.
France and Europe Tackling Pornographic Sites
Pornographic websites have been under scrutiny in France and across Europe for several years. The primary concern is the ease with which minors can access these sites, as they simply click to confirm they are “over 18” in order to bypass minimal security checks.
Currently, there are no robust safety measures to protect young audiences from inappropriate content. France has labeled this issue a “major problem” and has made several attempts to address it through judicial actions and bans. In May, the Paris Court of Appeal upheld the blocking of two significant pornographic sites, Xhamster and Tukif, which had already been banned alongside Mrsexe and Iciporno back in November 2024. Clearly, a temporary ban is no longer sufficient.
An Age Verification App Set for July 2025
In its ongoing quest for effective solutions, the European Union has announced the implementation of an age verification application starting in July 2025. This app aims to determine the age of users without collecting personal data, though details remain vague regarding how to ensure users do not fabricate their age without compromising their privacy.
Meanwhile, Arcom has asked the relevant sites to require younger users to submit either a photo of their ID or a video for age verification through facial recognition technology. Pornographic sites are not the only focus of France and Europe; Clara Chappaz, the minister responsible for artificial intelligence and digital affairs, has given the EU three months to establish agreements and propose measures for verifying the ages of minors using social media.
It’s worth noting that the legal digital age in France is set at 15 years, yet a 2021 survey by the CNIL revealed that two-thirds of children under 13 already have accounts on social media platforms.
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