Like X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Google or Facebook (Meta), the pornographic platforms Pornhub, Stripchat and XVideos, which each have more than 45 million active users in the EU, will be subject to stricter rules, to ensure in particular that they implement the necessary means for the protection of minors, announced the European Commission.
These reinforced rules will apply to the three pornographic sites from the end of April, four months after their designation by the Commission, which now plays the role of digital policeman within the European Union.
In total, after the 19 announced in April, Brussels will have designated 22 very large platforms, whose activity will be particularly scrutinized. Pornhub, Stripchat and XVideos will have to “adopt specific measures to empower and protect online users, including minors, and properly assess and mitigate any systemic risks arising from their services,” explained the Commission.
She stressed that she would be particularly vigilant on “measures aimed at protecting minors against harmful content and the fight against the dissemination of illicit content” such as violent or child pornography images.
Fines of up to 6% of turnover
Digital Commissioner Thierry Breton stressed that “creating a safer online environment for our children” was “a priority” in the implementation of the DSA.
The designation of the three sites as “very large platforms” online will allow “a closer examination of their algorithms and their processes”, declared the vice-president of the Commission, Margrethe Vestager.
Considered to have “systemic importance” and “particular responsibilities” due to their size, these platforms are placed under the direct supervision of the European Commission which has sanctioning powers.
Violators can be fined up to 6% of their global annual turnover, or even banned from operating in Europe in the event of serious and repeated violations.
Among their new obligations, very large platforms must analyze the specific risks linked in particular to the dissemination of “illegal content” or “violating fundamental rights” and submit a report to the Commission.
Breaches of European rules on content moderation and transparency
These platforms are subject to increased transparency, with the obligation to provide access to their data to researchers approved by the EU. They must also submit, at their own expense, to an external audit once a year to verify that they comply with European rules. Furthermore, obligations will apply to all online platforms, regardless of their size, from February 17, 2024.
They include the obligation to act “promptly” to remove any illicit content as soon as the platform becomes aware of it, or the obligation to inform judicial authorities when they suspect a “serious criminal offense”. They also include prohibitions, such as those on exploiting “sensitive” user data (gender, political leaning, religious affiliation, etc.) for targeted advertising and transparency obligations, such as the publication of the main parameters used by the recommendation systems.
As part of the DSA, Brussels opened a “formal investigation” on Monday targeting the social network X for alleged breaches of European rules on content moderation and transparency, a first under the new legislation. Various preliminary investigations have also been opened in recent months on different subjects against Apple, Google, Meta (Facebook, Instagram), TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube or Amazon, still within the framework of the DSA.