Adult media giant Pornhub made headlines as it bid adieu to France on Wednesday, following a dispute with the government over new age verification regulations. The French government now requires users to upload a photo ID to access adult websites, a departure from the previous method of simply clicking a button affirming they are of legal age. Critics of the new law argued that there are less invasive ways to prevent children from accessing adult content online.
In response to the new regulations, French users visiting Pornhub were greeted by a topless Marianne, the symbolic representation of France’s ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity, along with the message “freedom doesn’t have an off button.” This move stirred up strong reactions among French citizens, with some expressing outrage at what they perceived as an attack on freedom.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who has a controversial personal history involving a relationship with his much older drama teacher, supported the new law, citing concerns about young boys accessing porn at an early age. A recent investigation revealed that more than half of France’s 12-year-old boys visit porn sites, prompting calls for stricter regulations.
One of France’s top porn stars, Eva Hicks, voiced concerns that the ban on specialized platforms like Pornhub could lead adult content creators to post X-rated videos on mainstream social media platforms, potentially exposing minors to explicit content. Despite the ban, some users quickly found ways to bypass the restrictions using VPN apps, causing a surge in VPN sign-ups.
While Pornhub criticized the new regulations as unreasonable and ineffective, French authorities celebrated the ban, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Equality Minister Aurore Bergé expressing satisfaction at the reduced accessibility of explicit content to minors in France. The most searched terms on the platform in France included “française,” “MILF,” “mature woman,” and “woman with glasses,” indicating preferences for content featuring French women.
Overall, the ban on Pornhub in France sparked a mix of reactions, highlighting the ongoing debate over online censorship and access to adult content.
