The authority for regulating audiovisual and digital communication enjoins them “to comply with the legal obligation” before exposing themselves to a judgment of their service.
Le Monde with AFP
After the summons, the formal notices. The media regulator, the authority for regulating audiovisual and digital communication (or Arch, ex-superior audiovisual advisor [CSA]), has put in notice the pornographic sites Youporn and Redtube to block their access to minors, before exposing themselves to a stop of their service on Judicial decision.
In December 2021, the regulator had already urged five other pornographic sites – pornhub, tukif, xhamster, xvideos, xnxx – to comply with French regulations. He then seized justice in early March to request their blockage, for lack of reaction from the sites concerned.
The penal code prohibits exposing minors to pornographic photos and videos and the law on domestic violence of July 30, 2020 specifies that the companies concerned cannot be exempt from their responsibilities by just asking a user If it is major.
shortcomings noted by bailiffs
Now, according to the findings of bailiffs made in February, Youporn and Redtube are accessible after a “simple majority declaration on which it is enough to click”, explains the Arcom in the two formal appearances.
The regulator stresses having asked in early March clarifications on these breaches of MG Freesites, a company editor of the two sites, domiciled in Cyprus.
His explanations were finally deemed unconvincing by the Arcom, which urges MG Freesites from taking the necessary measures to prevent minors from accessing these two sites within fifteen days from the notification of this setting In fact.
If the same breaches were to be noted, the regulator could once again seize justice so that it orders the main providers of Internet access to prevent access to YouPorn and Redtube.
Initiatives are increasing in Europe to try to prevent minors from the pornographic sites. In 2019, the British government had adopted a text to force age authentication.