The EU’s top court ruled on June 16 that France can require pornographic websites based elsewhere in the bloc to verify users’ ages.
Since 2025, France has required publishers of pornographic material to implement technical age verification mechanisms to prevent minors from accessing their websites.
Czech firms WebGroup Czech Republic and NKL Associates, which operate major pornography websites, had challenged the rules.
They argued that France was trying to export its rules beyond its borders by forcing Czech-based websites to comply with French age-verification requirements.
On June 16, the European Court of Justice said France’s age-check rules restrict free movement of online services but may be justified on public policy grounds, including the protection of minors….
