France's ARCOM targets 31 porn sites over age‑verification breach
The Autorité de régulation de la communication audiovisuelle et numérique (ARCOM) has initiated enforcement procedures against 31 online pornographic platforms that have not implemented the legally required age‑verification system for users. The regulator described the move as its most extensive action to date to protect minors from accessing adult content online.
Under French law effective January 2025, publishers of pornographic material must put in place an identification mechanism to block under‑age visitors, with sanctions possible for non‑compliance. ARCOM has asked internet service providers and search engines to block or de‑reference 13 of the sites within 48 hours. It also sent letters of observation to five sites, both in France and abroad, giving them 15 days to justify the lack of age checks before possible blocking. The authority has notified its counterparts in several EU member states where 13 of the non‑compliant sites are headquartered, invoking European cooperation mechanisms.
ARCOM reports that, according to Médiamétrie Netratings data, the time minors spend on pornographic sites has fallen by almost a third since the verification requirement was introduced. To date, 35 platforms have either complied by adding age controls, withdrawn from the French market, or been blocked.
Entities: Autorité de régulation de la communication audiovisuelle et numérique (ARCOM)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] To date, 35 platforms have either implemented age checks, left the French market, or been blocked. (Article 01d60bcb-6403-43b7-a5eb-201853d990d3)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Letters of observation were sent to five sites, giving them 15 days to justify the lack of age verification before potential blocking. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The action is described as ARCOM's largest effort to protect minors from online pornography. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] ARCOM launched procedures against 31 pornographic websites for not implementing age‑verification. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] French law since January 2025 requires pornographic site operators to implement an age‑verification system for users. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] ARCOM said data from Médiamétrie Netratings show the time minors spend on pornographic sites has dropped by nearly one‑third compared with the period before the age‑verification rule. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] ARCOM asked internet service providers and search engines to block or de‑reference 13 of the non‑compliant sites within 48 hours. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] ARCOM informed counterparts in several EU member states where 13 of the non‑compliant sites are based, under a European cooperation procedure. (All articles)