The suspension of major pornographic sites in France earlier this week marks the beginning of a battle with an uncertain outcome. For months, the French government has sought to regulate access to X-rated platforms, under the guise of protecting minors. In anticipation of an inevitable and imminent sanction, the parent company Aylo has taken the radical decision to block access to Youporn, Pornhub, and Redtube in France.
Libertarian rhetoric
Aylo's statements are primarily intended to play on the media war between it and France. The company justifies its withdrawal from the market by refusing to "compromise users' privacy" with age verifications deemed ineffective and liberticidal. On many points, the company's warnings are not unfounded: accusations of abusive collection of personal data constitute one of the major arguments in the case. Aylo does not want to take responsibility for processing data as sensitive as its users' photos or IDs, and fears of surveillance pornography worry rights advocates.
This resistance is part of a broader strategy: in the United States, the group has already suspended its services in several states imposing age checks, while denouncing an attack on freedoms.
Yes, but...
Data exploitation is already a problem
A 2019 study revealed that 93% of pornographic sites transmit sensitive information to third parties, including Google, Facebook, and Oracle, without clear user consent. These practices, contrary to the GDPR, transform the sexuality of Internet users into commercial raw material, fueling targeted advertising models. In Europe, several researchers have already filed complaints against the site, accusing it of violating strict GDPR rules.
Solutions Exist
Aylo's decision ignores existing technical solutions, such as the double anonymity promoted by the CNIL, which would reconcile the protection of minors and respect for privacy. In reality, the company is primarily seeking to avoid the costs associated with compliance and the risks of a drop in traffic, as France represents its second-largest market worldwide with nearly 7 million daily visitors.
Furthermore, the technical solutions proposed by Aylo—such as device-level age verification—do not solve the problem. They simply shift the responsibility to Apple, Google, or Microsoft.
Blocking is useless?
As expected, the measures taken by Aylo have not prevented Internet users from accessing free pornography. VPN usage has exploded in recent days, and it's clear: even with the block, access to porn sites persists – this time in a less secure environment.
The idea that Internet users will suddenly turn to paid platforms to consume pornography – which would kill two birds with one stone, ensuring fair pay for online sex workers, while guaranteeing a ban for minors – is a fine idea, but it's not magic. Far from defending Internet users (and especially minors), Aylo's decision instead encourages migration to clandestine platforms, which are less careful about content moderation and data protection.
The defense of digital freedoms by online porn giants is more a matter of communication than an ethical commitment. By refusing any binding regulation, the porn giants are preserving a lucrative model based on the exploitation of data and uncontrolled access, to the detriment of the protection of minors and sex workers.
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