Arcom Warns 5 Adult Sites Over Age Verification

Arcom Warns 5 Adult Sites Over Age Verification

PARIS — French media regulator Arcom has sent enforcement notices to the operators of five adult websites that the agency says have failed to implement age verification as required under France’s Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law.

An Arcom statement issued Tuesday does not name the websites or providers involved in the enforcement actions, noting only that they are based in the European Union. However, an Arcom media relations rep told XBIZ that the sites are: xHamster, Xvideos, XNXX, xHamsterLive and TNAFlix.

According to the statement, Arcom gave the sites three weeks to comply. Should they fail to do so, Arcom plans to initiate delisting and blocking proceedings against them.

The Arcom statement notes that the letters were sent June 11. However, a government website records that the agency sent warnings to the five companies on Aug. 1.

As XBIZ reported in June, Cyprus-based Hammy Media, which operates xHamster, previously challenged the application of SREN’s age verification regulations to sites based in other EU countries. The Paris Administrative Court temporarily suspended enforcement of those rules, but French authorities appealed to the Council of State, which ruled in July that Hammy Media failed to demonstrate that the SREN rules would prevent the company from distributing adult content to users of legal age, echoing the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the pivotal age verification case FSC v. Paxton.

The Paris Administrative Court is still reviewing broader legal challenges to the decree's validity. There has been controversy over whether French media regulator Arcom has jurisdiction to regulate companies based in other EU member states and what procedures would have to be followed.

In May, for instance, government officials in Luxembourg rebuffed a French government request to help enforce SREN by taking action against webcam platform LiveJasmin.

In the newly posted Aug. 1 decisions, Arcom reports that it also asked media regulators in Cyprus and the Czech Republic to aid in enforcing its AV rules in the cases of the five sites that received warnings, but those agencies also declined on the grounds that they lack sufficient legal means to enforce the French law in their countries.

As XBIZ reported in May, the European Commission is also investigating Xvideos and XNXX, for suspected breaches of the Digital Services Act (DSA), after preliminarily finding that the platforms do not comply with a DSA requirement to put in place age verification tools to safeguard minors from adult content.

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

Op-Ed: The Guardian's XBIZ Amsterdam Podcast Dismisses Creators' Experiences

British newspaper The Guardian’s podcast coverage of XBIZ Amsterdam 2025 purports to investigate the power dynamics of today’s online adult industry. Instead, it ignores creators’ voices, airs tired and outdated preconceptions about the business, and rehashes the unsupported claims of anti-pornography crusaders.

Eva Maxim, BranditScan Launch 'Killer' Promo

Eva Maxim and BranditScan have partnered for the Killer Creator Giveaway promotion.

2026 XBIZ Exec Awards Nominees for Online Industry Announced

XBIZ is pleased to announce the nominees for the online industry edition of the 2026 XBIZ Exec Awards, set to be presented as part of the annual XBIZ Honors ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 14 in conjunction with the XBIZ 2026 digital media conference.

AEBN Publishes Report on POV Trends

AEBN has published a report on POV and gonzo categories from its straight and gay theaters.

Joybear Pictures to Launch 'I Really Love' Studio Imprint

Joybear Pictures has announced that its new studio imprint, I Really Love, will launch in January.

Pineapple Support to Host 'Life Transitions' Support Group

Pineapple Support is hosting a free online support group on navigating transitional and liminal spaces.

CamSoda Launches 'Trick or Tease' AI Companions

CamSoda has launched its Halloween-themed Trick or Tease AI companions.

Russian Lawmakers Call for Age Verification

Two Russian lawmakers have called on the country’s government to implement age verification for adult content.

British Documentary Spotlights XBIZ Amsterdam With Candid Conversations

British creator and host Josh Pieters traveled to XBIZ Amsterdam to film a documentary about the annual European adult industry conference.

XBIZ 2026 to Debut 'New Talent Go-See' Special Event

XBIZ 2026, North America’s premier adult industry conference, will debut a special event designed to help new talent jump-start their careers: the New Talent Go-See.

Show More