Act No. 2024-449 of 21 May
In accordance with the law of 21 May 2024 aimed at securing and regulating the digital space (SREN), ARCOM now has new powers to prevent minors from accessing pornographic websites. This is a step forward that the e-Enfance/3018 Association welcomes and fully supports.
Another step forward in protecting minors from pornographic websites.
The French Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communication (ARCOM) has launched a new phase in the fight against minors' exposure to online pornography. Thanks to the SREN law, ARCOM can now penalise, block or delist pornographic websites that do not implement effective age verification measures.
A first ministerial decree published on 6 March 2025 lists 17 European websites, including Pornhub, Youporn and Cams Chat, which will have to comply with age verification requirements or face penalties. An initial block has already been imposed on Cams Chat, which failed to comply with the legal requirements.
Early access to pornography by minors, which is detrimental to their development.
ARCOM data, derived from Médiamétrie audience analysis, reveals a worrying reality: Nearly 40% of children access pornographic websites every month in France. This early exposure has harmful effects on children's psychological, emotional and sexual development.
It is therefore essential that platforms apply this robust age verification system, validated by the CNIL.
A long-standing battle fought by e-Enfance/3018.
The e-Enfance Association / 3018 is actively working to ensure the effective implementation of age verification on pornographic websites. In 2021, the Association took unprecedented legal action against several content distributors for non-compliance with the law, resulting in landmark decisions:
We remain committed to working alongside ARCOM, convinced that children's rights also depend on better regulation of digital technology.
