The European Commission has launched formal investigations into Snapchat and four adult websites over potential violations of the Digital Services Act regarding child protection.
European Commission Targets Snapchat and Adult Content Platforms
The European Commission is initiating investigations into Snapchat and several adult content platforms, preliminarily finding that four adult sites may be violating the Digital Services Act (DSA) by failing to adequately protect minors from harmful content.
Vice-President of the European Commission for the Digital Market, Henna Virkkunen, stated that online platforms are responsible for protecting minors and must enhance their efforts to do so.
Concerns Over Insufficient Age Verification
The Commission suspects that the adult websites—Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos—do not sufficiently block access to inappropriate content for children. The initial investigation, launched in May 2025, focused on access to content published on these services by minors.
The platforms’ “Terms of Service” state they are intended for adults only, but the Commission found that all four allow minors access with a simple click confirming they are over 18 years old. The Commission deems this “self-declaration” insufficient.
Additional mitigation measures, such as content blurring, warnings, and “adults only” labels, are also considered ineffective in preventing minors’ access to harmful content.
Required Measures and Potential Penalties
The Commission believes these services must implement privacy-protecting age verification measures to prevent children from accessing harmful content. These findings do not finalize the investigation; the services can now address the identified violations.
If the services fail to rectify the violations, the Commission may impose fines up to 6% of the provider’s total annual worldwide turnover. Periodic penalty payments can also be applied to enforce compliance.
Snapchat Under Scrutiny for Safety and Recruitment Risks
The Commission is also investigating Snapchat’s compliance with DSA regulations concerning child protection. The investigation will assess whether Snapchat provides a high level of safety, privacy, and protection for children online.
The Commission suspects Snapchat may have violated the DSA by exposing minors to attempts at grooming, recruitment for criminal purposes, and information about illegal goods like drugs, as well as age-restricted products like vapes and alcohol.
Scope of the Investigation
The Commission’s investigation into Snapchat will focus on five key areas related to child safety and potential illegal activities facilitated through the platform.
