France and Germany are pushing ahead with porn crackdown over age verification measures

0
france and germany porn ban

France and Germany’s crackdown on online porn intensified at the beginning of September 2022, with courts in the two countries pushing ahead with measures to implement or maintain porn bans.

Lawyers for the porn sites Tukif, Xhamster, XNXX and XVideos argued in a Paris court that the court was not authorised to oversee the sites challenged by Arcom, France’s audiovisual and digital regulator. Arcom, acting after complaints from child protection organizations, claimed that the porn sites were not taking sufficient measures to prevent minors from accessing the sites.

Lawyers representing the porn sites argue that the challenge was not constitutional, reported Reuters. On October 4 the court is set to decide whether it can rule on the issue or whether the case needs to be sent to appeals court.

As well as the four porn sites represented in court, Pornhub also faces being blocked in France if the legal challenge is sustained and blocks implemented. The porn sites had been warned that they needed to introduce proper age verification processes to avoid being blocked, something Arcom says has not happened.

Things aren’t looking much more porn-positive in Germany, where the country’s Higher Administrative Court found no objections to a ban in the country of porn site xHamster, implemented in March 2022, reported NTV.

The German xHamster block, implemented by the country’s main internet service providers (ISPs), was also related to age verfication concerns. Tobias Schmid, head of the State Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia, had launched something of an anti-porn crusade, targeting xHamster in the courts.

The move raised the prospect of other porn sites being blocked in Germany, and an age verification-related precedent being set for online porn in wider Europe. The crackdown has led to outcry from free speech advocates.

“In view of the high priority given to the protection of minors, the providers could not counter the ban with the so-called country of origin principle, according to which internet providers from an EU member state are only subject to the rules there,” NTV says.

Much of the online porn industry, in Germany and beyond, will have eyes on France for the October 4 decision over whether the Paris court can rule on the porn block. Of course, accessing the sites via a VPN (and choosing a location outside of Germany/France) should still provide access to the sites, thereby showing how futile the measures are in relation to their aims.

Read next: xHamster blocked in Germany, stoking fears of further porn censorship

Affiliate Disclosure
Some articles contain affiliate links that allow us to earn money if you decide to purchase any of these products or services. This does not cost you any extra, and it allows us to continue to run this independent website without ads. Affiliate links have no relation to review ratings or other editorial coverage. You can read the full policy here.

Jamie F
Jamie F

Jamie is a freelance writer, contributing to outlets such as The Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph, CNN and Vice.

Be the first to leave a comment

Leave a reply

SEXTECHGUIDE
Logo
LATEST
Comparisons
20+ Best VR Porn Sites
6+ Best Gay & Trans VR Porn Sites
10+ Best AI Porn Generators
3+ Best AI Girlfriend Apps
9+ Best XXX Cam Sites
15+ Best Chromecast Porn Sites
13+ Best Porn Apps
9+ Best iPhone Porn Sites
Ultimate Sound-responsive Vibrator Guide
6+ OnlyFans Alternatives
10+ Best Toys for People with Disabilities
14+ Best Mini Vibrators
13 Sex Tech Solutions for Premature Ejaculation
7-Step Guide to Camming
Watch VR Porn on Any Headset
Consent 101