EU Court Backs French Porn Site Age Checks

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that France may require pornographic websites based in other EU member states to verify the age of their users. The decision strengthens French efforts to prevent minors from accessing adult content and could influence similar regulations across the bloc.

The court acknowledged that age-verification requirements restrict the free movement of digital services within the EU. However, it found that such measures can be justified on grounds of public interest, particularly the protection of children.

At the same time, the CJEU stressed that France must follow EU procedures when applying the rules to operators established in other member states. These include notifying both the provider's home country and the European Commission.

The ruling stems from a legal challenge brought by Czech companies WebGroup Czech Republic and NKL Associates, which contested the French legislation.

(Reuters, Max)