Earlier this month, several popular pornographic sites abandoned France. Aylo, the Canadian porn giant, blocked access to Pornhub, RedTube, and YouPorn in France to protest the SREN law (Securing and Regulating the Digital Space). This 2024 law requires porn sites to verify the age of their visitors. It was followed by a ministerial decree in March 2025, which came into effect on June 6, 2025.
Failure to comply could result in a heavy fine from the digital and audiovisual regulator, Arcom, as well as outright blocking. Convinced that the law might do worse rather than better, Aylo preferred to take the initiative by cutting off access to its sites for all French Internet users shortly before the decree came into effect. This decision caused a rush on VPN services across France.
A suspended law... and contrary to European law?
A few weeks later, the Paris administrative court suspended the decree that requires pornographic sites available in the European Union to verify the age of their users. The court wants to verify that the legislation is compatible with European law.
"Provisional measures" have been taken to "immediately put an end to the infringement of rights conferred by the legal order of the European Union", the court said, expressing "serious doubt about the legality of the decree". The decision would clearly violate European rules.
Pornhub, RedTube, and YouPorn unblocked in France
In response, Aylo has reopened its trio of porn sites to French users. On the homepages of all three platforms, the Canadian group, which hosts its sites in Cyprus, believes that the suspension "provides an opportunity to reconsider more effective approaches." The company continues to insist that, as it stands, the law "does not protect minors – but on the contrary, it endangers everyone's privacy." All French Internet users can once again watch pornographic videos on Aylo's sites.
For its part, the French government is contesting the decision of the Paris administrative court. It plans to appeal to the Council of State. In short, the government wants to overturn the Paris administrative court's decision and reinstate the age verification requirement on porn sites, a measure deemed essential to protect young people. If this were to happen, a new administrative court would retry the case.
0 Comments