The Paris Court of Appeal has ruled that internet service providers (ISPs) must block access to non-European adult websites that fail to implement effective age verification systems. This ruling addresses concerns over the exposure of minors to explicit content, which affects more than two million children and teenagers in France each month, according to Arcom, France’s audiovisual and digital communication regulator.
While major sites such as Pornhub and YouPorn are temporarily exempt, platforms like Tukif and xHamster are now required to comply or face being blocked. This decision follows a 2020 law mandating that adult content sites verify users’ ages. Advocacy groups, including La Voix de l’Enfant and e-Enfance, have been instrumental in pushing for stricter enforcement, securing a victory at the Court of Cassation in 2023. The ruling underscores the inadequacy of current age verification methods, which rely solely on user declarations, and pressures websites to adopt more secure digital solutions.
The ruling is expected to increase demand for AI-driven age verification technologies from providers like Ariadnext, Yoti, and IDNow. These companies offer services ranging from document-based checks to biometric assessments, ensuring compliance with legal standards while protecting user privacy. France’s SREN law, which empowers Arcom to block non-compliant websites without judicial intervention, adds urgency for platforms to adopt these technologies.
This decision may influence broader European regulations as discussions about harmonizing age verification standards across the EU continue. Some major platforms are awaiting a ruling from the European Court of Justice on this matter, which could shape the future of digital safety across the continent.
Source: ID Tech
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October 21, 2024 – by the Mobile ID World Editorial Team
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