France sets strict privacy rules for online age verification
This order is part of a wider effort in France and the EU to shield minors from online pornography while establishing privacy-preserving standards. Its emphasis on independent verification and user anonymity may influence future regulations in other sectors requiring age control.
On 7 June 2025, a new French regulation (Law on Securing and Regulating the Digital Space) came into effect, requiring all adult websites accessible in France, including those based elsewhere in the EU, to comply with strict age verification measures.
The order, published in March and applicable from June, mandates that any platform offering pornographic content in France must implement robust, privacy-respecting age checks. This includes methods like digital ID verification, biometrics, or document checks that go beyond simple declarations. Notably, these checks must follow the principle of “double anonymity”: age verification providers must not know which sites users visit, and the sites must not identify users.
Verification must be performed by independent third parties. Both the platforms and the providers are prohibited from storing or processing personal data beyond what is strictly necessary. The display of any adult content before successful verification is also banned.
Enforcement falls under the authority of Arcom, which can issue fines of up to 2% of global revenue, order ISP blocks, and delist non-compliant platforms. Some major sites are already under scrutiny and risk being blocked in France.
Initially, transitional measures allowed basic methods like bank card checks, but these are now being phased out in favour of more secure alternatives.
