French Regulator Threatens to Block Top 5 Tube Sites Over Age Verification

French Regulator Threatens to Block Top 5 Tube Sites Over Age Verification

PARIS — Top adult tube sites in France were summoned Monday by the country’s Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel, a regulatory government body similar to the American FCC, and ordered to “prevent minors from accessing their content before the end of the year” under penalty of being deplatformed by internet service providers.

As XBIZ reported Monday, the news was leaked to a journalist before the announcement, although the timeline seems to have been tightened by two weeks, forcing tube sites to act during the country’s holiday vacation.

Pornhub, Tukif, xHamster, XVideos and XNXX were ordered, via formal notices published on the CSA website, to immediately implement some form of age verification, leading French newspaper Le Monde reported.

The CSA claims it is acting in the name of "its mission of protecting minors."

“In the event of non-compliance with this obligation within 15 days,” Le Monde reported, “the sites run the risk of total blocking of their access in France.”

A CSA representative told wire service Agence France-Presse that the agency's decisions “appeal to the responsibility of operators who must put in place the necessary measures to prevent minors from accessing their content. A minor, and in particular a child who finds himself in front of unsuitable content, such as pornographic content, can be lastingly, at the very least, shocked.”

The age-verification provision, added to a hastily approved domestic violence law during an atypical and sparsely attended COVID-era session of the French Parliament in July 2020, specifies that adult companies should be required to institute measures beyond simply asking an internet user if they are of age.

The law allows a government official, the president of the CSA, to demand that the president of the judicial court order the ISP providers to immediately block infringing sites in the entire country.

Effort Spearheaded by Self-Appointed 'Children's Rights' Groups

The CSA action was prompted late last month by three nonprofit groups purporting to represent children’s rights: the Observatoire de la Parentalité et de l’Éducation Numérique, the Union Nationale des Associations Familiales and the Conseil Français des Associations Pour les Droits de l’Enfant. The groups identified eight “pornographic sites” they said should be censored for alleged violations of the July 2020 law.

Several other groups, with unclear agendas but also claiming to support “protecting children,” are also spearheading attempts to prevent French people from accessing what the groups consider “pornographic websites,” which may include any site that may feature explicit sexual expression, like Twitter.

Justine Atlan, a spokesperson for one of the organizations, e-Enfance, told AFP that “it is important to put pressure on pornographic sites so that they cannot continue to violate the legal framework of the industry they have chosen, which stipulates not to expose minors to pornography.”

Atlan claims that “the current internet pornography has more violent content, ‘revenge porn’ and sex without consent. This has consequences on the sexual practices that young people reproduce —  brutality, problem of consent, pressure [linked to] performance.”

Similar initiatives have been announced in the U.K. and Germany to prevent access to adult tube sites.

Le Monde is also currently publishing a series of reports exposing what it considers to be predatory practices in the French adult industry. The reports appear to be timed in order to influence public opinion to support the actions of the “children’s rights” groups and their allies within the CSA.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

JustFor.fans' Dominic Ford Featured in Wired Magazine

JustFor.fans Founder and CEO Dominic Ford is featured in a new article in Wired Magazine, titled "The Internet Revolutionized Porn. Age Verification Could Upend Everything."

Dr. Charlotte Gaydos Joins ProDx Health Advisory Board

Dr. Charlotte Gaydos has joined the Advisory Board of ProDx Health.

Aylo Fined $5 Million as FTC, Utah Settle Safety Practices Complaint

The Federal Trade Commission and the state of Utah on Wednesday settled a complaint against Aylo, requiring the company to pay a $5 million penalty and implement measures to prevent illegal content from appearing on its sites.

New AI Companion Platform 'Pornstar.love' Launches

Pornstar.love, a new AI companion platform, has officially launched.

Pineapple Support, Stripchat to Host 'Navigating Thoughts of Suicide' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Stripchat are hosting a free online support group to help performers deal with suicidal ideation.

Plaiir Names Cade Maddox as Lead of Creator Relations

Networking platform Plaiir has appointed Cade Maddox as its new lead of creator relations.

Go.cam Launches 'One-Line Integration' Verification Solution

Go.cam has introduced a one-line code integration for age verification.

XBIZ Amsterdam to Debut 'Behind the Lens' Screening Series

XBIZ is pleased to announce the debut of “Behind the Lens,” a new screening series presenting discussions with noted directors, taking place at the upcoming annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam.

'White Rabbit' Party Headed for XBIZ Amsterdam

XBIZ is pleased to announce the White Rabbit Party, an XBIZ Amsterdam special event set to take place Wednesday, Sept. 3.

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Speaker Lineup Announced

XBIZ is pleased to announce the release of the full speaker lineup for XBIZ Amsterdam 2025, the latest edition of Europe’s biggest adult industry conference, set to take place Sept. 2-5 at the Jakarta Hotel in Amsterdam.

Show More