After Pornhub, X could be blocked in France

Last week, pornography sites Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube made good on their threat to block access to French internet users after the government's decision to impose age verification for visitors. After these platforms, it's the turn of Elon Musk's social network, X, to be in the sights of the French government.

The French government is hunting down pornographic content on the Internet

Will it soon be necessary to prove one's age and majority to access the social network X, formerly Twitter? This is the big question that arises since the French government wants to impose on the platform an obligation to verify the age of network users so that minors cannot access the pornographic content that is now authorized on the American social network.

So, after Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube, which decided not to comply with the obligation to verify the age of visitors, it is now X's turn to be targeted by the government. Adult video sites have blocked access to all French visitors. From now on, and until further notice, a message "Freedom has no off button" is displayed on the homepage, along with a text explaining the process.

Poll: Porn: Do you understand these sites' decision to block French Internet users?

For the Aylo group, which owns these three sites, checking the age of Internet users to protect minors from pornographic content is nonsense and represents a high risk regarding the security of personal data. A standoff has begun between these platforms and the Minister for Digital Affairs, Clara Chappaz. The latter did not hide her anger at this decision and seems determined not to back down.

The government wants to classify X as a porn site

Due to the pornographic content proliferating on Elon Musk's social network, the minister's team wants to classify X as a porn site. Clara Chappaz is demanding that the social network ban this type of content or implement user age control using a method other than the simple "I am over 18" button.

If X does not comply with this obligation, then the social network could be fined or delisted from search engines or even face a total block in France. It remains to be seen whether Elon Musk will respond favorably to the government's request or decide not to comply and prevent French Internet users from accessing his platform, as is the case with the Aylo group's pornographic sites.