“It is not an option, it is the law”: these 5 porn sites are exposed to blocking in France

No respite for X sites which are in delicacy with the law on the control of the age of Internet users. In a press release published on July 4, 2025, the Digital Regulatory Authority (Arch) said that it has just sent 5 pornographic sites a formal notice, for lack for them to have deployed an age verification system.

These 5 X sites have the particularity of being all established within the European Union. And it is not the only one: it turns out that it is also 5 sites that have already been warned by the digital regulator during the month of June, before a legal adventure interrupted the procedure – which required to revive it.

A possible blockage from August, if nothing changes

The 5 sites x are as follows (the 5 links each lead to the decision published in the Official Journal):

Accessible from France, these five sites must ” comply with their obligations, within three weeks ». Otherwise, the Arcom may take place to the next step, consisting in asking the justice to pronounce a blocking prescription for the main internet access providers in the country (Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free).

« After this period, if the sites have not complied with the law, the Arch will initiate a dereference and blocking procedure against them, in accordance with the provisions of the Sren law [Sécuriser et Réguler l’Espace Numérique] “, Is it clearly indicated. And the Arcom has already shown that it was implementing threats.

The Arcom’s decision was welcomed on the day of August 5 on X (ex-Twitter) by Clara Chappaz, the Minister Delegate responsible for artificial and digital intelligence, very invested on this file. “” 5 new formal notice porn sites, millions of protected minors. Checking the age of users is not an option is the law! »

These provisions are put in place in the name of the protection of minors: regular investigations show that children, sometimes from pre-adolescence, partly frequent sites X. A phenomenon that has increased over the years. In 2022, 30 % of Internet users under the age of 18 went to an X site each month. Almost one in three.

This reality convinced the public authorities to make firmer arrangements to force the hand of X sites so that they verify the age of those who visit them. This screw tightening is not specific to France. Similar efforts exist elsewhere in the world, for example in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Friction with x sites, and VPN in ambush

The way in which this protective framework is deployed, however, leads to friction-with adults, who are reluctant to submit to too invasive and intrusive controls, and with X sites. In this area, the Mother house of Pornhub, Youporn and Redtube, also targeted by French rules, opted for the arm-de-maker, leaving the French market.

The refusal of Aylo, the parent company, is not synonymous with laissez-faire, but is based on a disagreement concerning the method. Aylo would prefer a verification via terminals and bones, rather than counting, for example, on a photo or identity document to send, even with double anonymity for privacy (not to mention security issues).

In this match where everyone takes place, there is however a sector which, without saying it, counts the points: that of VPN publishers. The companies behind the best VPNs on the market suspect that many will prefer to pay a VPN, rather than submit to an identity verification, or give up going to this or that X site. And that is already seen.

(Update with the Minister’s reaction)