The Paris Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday that several non-EU adult entertainment websites must implement stringent age verification systems within 15 days to prevent minors from accessing explicit content. The ruling comes as part of a broader effort by the French government to enforce child protection measures online under a 2020 law aimed at countering domestic violence.

The court’s decision mandates that websites like xHamster and MrSexe either comply with the order or face being blocked from France’s national digital space.

The ruling is a significant move in France’s efforts to regulate online content and protect minors, prioritizing child safety over privacy concerns and access rights for adult users. French audiovisual regulator Arcom has been granted the authority to enforce these age-gating measures, a power that allows it to block non-compliant sites from being accessible within France.

The ruling is based on a 2020 French law designed to tackle domestic violence, which included provisions for stricter online protections for minors. One of the law’s key requirements is that websites providing adult content must have effective age verification systems to ensure that minors, particularly those under 18, are unable to access explicit material.

The Paris court emphasized that age verification is not just a technicality but a necessary protective measure to safeguard children from potentially harmful content. According to the court’s decision, this imperative supersedes the privacy rights and right to access for adult users, reflecting the French government’s focus on child safety over other digital freedoms.

While some websites like Pornhub, which is subject to ongoing litigation within the European Union’s courts regarding the Digital Services Act, are currently challenging age verification rules, other non-EU platforms are now required to comply or face immediate consequences. The 15-day window gives these adult platforms a short timeline to implement the necessary age verification tools. If they fail to do so, they risk being blocked entirely within France.

This ruling follows increased scrutiny of online platforms, particularly those hosting adult content, as governments across Europe push for more robust regulations to protect minors. The European Union has already designated several adult websites under its strictest online governance framework, further pressuring these platforms to adopt stronger safety measures.

The ruling comes amidst a growing European crackdown on child safety violations online. For example, France recently arrested Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, under its new cybercrime law as part of a broader investigation into child sexual abuse material on the platform. These actions demonstrate the increasing importance of child safety in France’s digital regulatory framework.

French authorities, including Arcom, have been empowered to block access to websites that do not comply with the national laws on age verification. This marks a turning point in France’s approach to balancing digital freedoms with safety concerns, particularly for vulnerable populations such as minors.

The Paris Court of Appeals ruling has far-reaching implications not only for non-EU websites but also for the global adult content industry. Websites will now need to adopt more secure and effective methods to verify the age of users. The court’s decision reinforces the message that child protection will take precedence over commercial interests or privacy concerns in the online space.

Adult websites will likely face pressure to adopt more sophisticated verification tools, such as government-issued ID checks or other third-party authentication systems, to comply with these rules. Such measures, while potentially deterring some users, are seen as essential in creating a safer digital environment for younger users.

The 15-day compliance period set by the Paris Court of Appeals marks a pivotal moment in France’s efforts to protect children online. If the affected websites do not implement adequate age verification systems, France could see a substantial number of adult websites being blocked from its national digital landscape.