{"id":1670,"date":"2024-03-07T15:22:20","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T15:22:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/pornhub-challenges-eu-over-online-content-rules\/"},"modified":"2024-03-07T15:22:20","modified_gmt":"2024-03-07T15:22:20","slug":"pornhub-challenges-eu-over-online-content-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/pornhub-challenges-eu-over-online-content-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Pornhub challenges EU over online content rules"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pornhub challenges EU over online content rules<\/p>\n

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\"Pornhub<\/picture><\/span>Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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By Shiona McCallum & Chris Vallance<\/div>\n
Technology reporters<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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One of the world’s most popular pornography websites, Pornhub, is contesting new EU rules. <\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Pornhub is facing new obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), including strict requirements on age verification.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The new rules apply to what the EU designates a Very large Online Platform (VLOP) – which Pornhub says it is not.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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“We believe the European Commission erred in its calculation of our user numbers”, the firm said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The challenge was filed to the EU’s General Court in Luxembourg on March 1 for Pornhub by its owner, the Canada-based Aylo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Technius, the parent firm of another adult site, Stripchat, has also registered a case, as has WebGroup Czech Republic, which operates XVideos.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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To be designated a VLOP, a site needs to be visited by more than 45 million Europeans on average every month – a threshold the EU says Pornhub meets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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But Aylo says as of January 31, 2024, Pornhub had 32 million monthly active users – so it is filing an application to have its VLOP status annulled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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It said it looked forward to the facts “being fully and fairly aired” in court. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Stricter rules<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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The DSA aims to give people in the EU greater protections online, with VLOPs facing what the European Commission calls more “diligent content moderation.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Among its measures are new responsibilities to take down illegal content, such as non-consensual videos.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Sites can also be asked to have a publicly accessible database of advertisements – a requirement Aylo says it considers “illegal”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The platforms are expected to give detailed plans by April 20 about how they limit major risks like violence against women and protection of minors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Breaching the new law can lead to fines of up to 6% of a company’s global turnover.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The websites’ owners had until this month to contest the decisions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Legal clashes<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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The DSA is not only the piece of European legislation causing tech companies headaches.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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From Thursday, six big firms – designated “gatekeepers” by the EU – face new responsibilities under the Digitial Markets Act (DMA).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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But one of them, Apple, has already run into controversy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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It has barred Fortnite-maker, Epic Games, from launching its own online marketplace on iPhones and iPads in Europe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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One of the DMA’s objectives is to open up big tech app stores to more competition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The EU says it will now question Apple about its decision.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Related Topics<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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