France Blocks Adult Websites Over Age Verification

The Paris Court of Appeal has mandated the blocking of four pornographic websites—Tukif, Xhamster, Mrsexe, and Iciporno—due to inadequate age verification measures, with a 15-day deadline for compliance. This ruling, stemming from a 2020 domestic violence law, aims to protect minors from accessing adult content, prioritizing child safety over other rights like freedom of expression. The court emphasized that mere user declarations of age are insufficient, requiring more robust verification methods such as biometric checks. The decision may also extend to EU-hosted sites like Pornhub and YouPorn, pending a ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union. Child protection organizations have been advocating for stricter controls, arguing that existing measures do not adequately prevent minors from exposure to harmful content. As part of broader efforts, the U.S. and UK are collaborating to bolster children's online safety against various digital threats.