Key facts
- France can require pornographic websites to verify users' ages, according to the EU's top court.
- The court found that these age-check rules, while restricting free movement of online services, may be justified on public policy grounds, including the protection of minors.
- Pornographic website operators cannot claim hosting liability exemptions if they control user-generated content.
- France can apply these measures to providers in other EU states after notifying their home country and the European Commission, unless it's an urgent case.
- Czech firms WebGroup Czech Republic and NKL Associates had challenged the French regulations.
The European Union's top court ruled on Tuesday that France can legally require pornographic websites to verify users' ages, supporting national efforts to shield minors from online adult content. The Court of Justice stated that while these age-check rules restrict the free movement of online services, they may be justified on public policy grounds, particularly the protection of minors.