Blocking pornographic websites
Historic decision: The Paris Court of Appeal orders the blocking of pornographic websites that do not comply with mandatory age verification for users.
17 October 2024 marks a major step forward in the online child protection. After three years of proceedings, the’e-Enfance Association / 3018 and The Association the Voice of the Child have obtained the blocking of several pornographic websites. Court of Appeal of Paris ordered the blocking of several non-European websites, xhamster (the fourth most visited pornographic website in France), tukif, mrsexe and iciporno, which did not comply with the mandatory age verification of users planned by the law of July 2020.
Early exposure that harms the psycho-sexual development of minors.
This decision comes as studies reveal that nearly one in three children has already been exposed to pornographic content before the age of 12, and that 62 % for young people saw their first pornographic images before the age of 15.
These figures are very worrying when we consider that the’early exposure these images can generate for the child trauma and misrepresentations of the body and sexuality. And that is precisely why the The law prohibits exposing minors to such content.
A decision that will set a precedent for Europe?
Although this decision currently only affects sites outside Europe, it paves the way for similar measures for platforms hosted in Europe. We are awaiting the next decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
