New AV Rules Take Effect for Ireland-Based Sites

New AV Rules Take Effect for Ireland-Based Sites

DUBLIN — Ireland’s Online Safety Code came into force Monday, including a provision requiring adult sites headquartered in Ireland to implement age assurance measures beyond self-declaration.

The Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland’s media regulator, finalized the Online Safety Code in October 2024. The code establishes mandatory guidelines for video-sharing platforms headquartered in Ireland, including a section titled “Age Assurance and Adult-Only Video Content.”

That section requires sites that permit adult content to “implement effective age assurance measures as defined in this Code to ensure that adult-only video content cannot normally be seen by children.”

Age assurance based solely on self-declaration of age by users is not considered an effective measure under the code.

Violations of the Online Safety Code can incur fines up to 20 million euros or 10% of a site's annual global turnover, whichever is greater.

Earlier this month, Commissioner of Digital Services John Evans described “holding regulated entities to account” as the core of the Coimisiún na Meán’s mandate. He stated that the agency’s role is “moving beyond a self-regulatory model which in many respects hasn’t worked.”

Sites not headquartered in Ireland are also subject to age assurance requirements, under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA). In May, the European Commission initiated formal proceedings against several high-volume adult sites for “suspected breaches” of DSA rules.

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

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.

Sara Jay, Dan Leal to Sponsor XBIZ Amsterdam Kick-Off Event

Sara Jay’s Wyde Syde Productions and Porno Dan Leal’s Market64 will co-sponsor the Bottoms Up Day Drinking kick-off event for XBIZ Amsterdam 2025 at Excalibur Café on Sept. 2, from 2-4 p.m. (CET).

AEBN Publishes Report on DP Trends

AEBN has published a report on DP and extreme penetration categories from its straight and gay theaters.

Free Speech Coalition Appoints Megan Stokes to Board of Directors

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) announced today that it has appointed Megan Stokes to its Board of Directors.

FansRevenue Acquires DivaTraffic

FansRevenue has acquired web traffic service DivaTraffic.

AEBN Announces Peter Green as Top Male Boy/Girl Performer for Summer 2025

AEBN has revealed its top 10 male Boy/Girl performers for summer 2025, with Peter Green landing atop the leaderboard.

Spicey AI Relaunches Site, Debuts $Spicey Tokens

Interactive voice chat platform Spicey AI has relaunched its website and introduced $Spicey tokens.

FSC: Missouri Age Verification Rule Will Not Take Effect August 30

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) announced that Missouri's proposed age verification legislation will not take effect on August 30, as it had originally estimated.

Little Caprice, Marcello Bravo to Co-Host 2025 XMA Europa Awards

XBIZ is pleased to announce that husband-and-wife duo Little Caprice and Marcello Bravo will co-host adult’s biggest night in Europe: the 2025 XMA Europa Awards on Sept. 4, in the epic climax to XBIZ’s fall events series.

Germany Will Block Payments to AV-Noncompliant Adult Sites as of Dec. 1

Starting Dec. 1, Germany will implement new rules prohibiting financial institutions from providing payment services to adult sites deemed to have inadequate age verification systems and making it easier for the government to target websites mirroring the content of such sites.

Show More