pornblocked

Is Pornhub blocked in France?

Yes. Pornhub has blocked France since June 4, 2025 (it now shows only a safe-for-work version, with no new sign-ups). France's SREN law took effect January 11, 2025.

Pornhub blockedit now shows only a safe-for-work version, with no new sign-ups Law in effect
Last verified Sources (15)

Since January 2025, France has required pornographic sites to verify users' ages with systems that meet Arcom's technical standard, and Arcom can fine sites or order them blocked or delisted. Aylo withdrew Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube in June 2025 rather than comply; since June 2026 Pornhub has offered French visitors only a safe-for-work version with sign-ups closed. In 2026 a Paris court rejected Aylo's challenge, and the EU Court of Justice confirmed France can apply such rules to sites based elsewhere in the EU if procedural conditions are met.

Pornhub est-il bloqué en France ?

Yes. Pornhub has blocked France since June 4, 2025 (it now shows only a safe-for-work version, with no new sign-ups). France's SREN law took effect January 11, 2025.

The law

Key facts
StatusLaw in effect
LawSREN law: Loi n° 2024-449 du 21 mai 2024 visant à sécuriser et à réguler l'espace numérique (SREN) (text)
CitationArts. 10, 10-1 and 10-2 of Loi n° 2004-575 (LCEN) as amended by the SREN law; Arcom référentiel of 11 October 2024; Penal Code art. 227-24
PassedMay 21, 2024
In effectJanuary 11, 2025
RegulatorArcom
Who it coversPublishers of pornographic online services and video-sharing platforms established in France or outside the EU. Services established in other EU member states are covered only if designated by ministerial order: the arrêté of 26 February 2025 (published 6 March 2025) designated 17 services, including Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube, with obligations applying from 7 June 2025.
Accepted ID methodsAny system meeting Arcom's référentiel (reliability and privacy criteria); Privacy-preserving 'double anonymity' options via independent third parties; Bank-card checks (allowed during a transitional period); Facial age estimation; Self-declaration not accepted
Data rulesArcom's référentiel, adopted after consulting the CNIL, sets minimum privacy and security requirements. After a transitional period, sites must offer at least one 'double anonymity' option, in which the site receives proof of age without learning the user's identity and the age-check provider does not learn which site is being visited. Until age is verified, sites must show a page with no pornographic content.
EnforcementArcom can issue observation letters and formal notices (mises en demeure), then impose financial penalties and order ISPs, DNS resolvers and search engines to block or delist a site within 48 hours, without first going to court. For EU-established sites, Arcom refers cases to the regulator in the home member state under EU cooperation procedures. By July 2026, Arcom said 35 of the sites most visited by minors had complied, stopped serving porn in France, or been blocked since February 2025.
PenaltiesFor failing to comply with a formal notice on age verification: up to €150,000 or 2% of worldwide turnover (€300,000 or 4% for repeat breaches). For failing to prevent minors' access: up to €250,000 or 4% (€500,000 or 6% for repeat breaches). Intermediaries that ignore blocking orders face up to €75,000 or 1% of turnover. Exposing minors to pornography is also a criminal offence under Penal Code art. 227-24.

Why is Pornhub blocked in France?

Aylo suspended Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube in France on 4 June 2025 in protest. Access briefly returned with click-through self-declaration after a Paris judge suspended the designation order on 16 June 2025, then was cut again on 15 July 2025 when the Conseil d'État reinstated it. Since early June 2026 Pornhub has shown French visitors only non-explicit or blurred content, with new registrations closed; Next.ink found that an account created abroad could not be used to log in from France. YouPorn and RedTube still show a protest message. On 24 August 2026 Pornhub wrote to Arcom calling site-level age checks 'symbolic, ineffective and unenforceable'.

When did Pornhub block France?

Pornhub stopped serving France on June 4, 2025. France's SREN law took effect January 11, 2025.

What does SREN law require?

Publishers of pornographic online services and video-sharing platforms established in France or outside the EU. Services established in other EU member states are covered only if designated by ministerial order: the arrêté of 26 February 2025 (published 6 March 2025) designated 17 services, including Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube, with obligations applying from 7 June 2025.

Enforcement: Arcom can issue observation letters and formal notices (mises en demeure), then impose financial penalties and order ISPs, DNS resolvers and search engines to block or delist a site within 48 hours, without first going to court. For EU-established sites, Arcom refers cases to the regulator in the home member state under EU cooperation procedures. By July 2026, Arcom said 35 of the sites most visited by minors had complied, stopped serving porn in France, or been blocked since February 2025.

How do I verify my age for adult sites in France?

France's SREN law accepts these methods: Any system meeting Arcom's référentiel (reliability and privacy criteria); Privacy-preserving 'double anonymity' options via independent third parties; Bank-card checks (allowed during a transitional period); Facial age estimation; Self-declaration not accepted. Each site chooses which ones to offer.

Can porn sites keep my ID in France?

Arcom's référentiel, adopted after consulting the CNIL, sets minimum privacy and security requirements. After a transitional period, sites must offer at least one 'double anonymity' option, in which the site receives proof of age without learning the user's identity and the age-check provider does not learn which site is being visited. Until age is verified, sites must show a page with no pornographic content.

Timeline

  1. SREN law (Loi n° 2024-449) promulgated, giving Arcom power to set age-verification standards and order blocking. [1]
  2. Age verification under Arcom's référentiel becomes mandatory for covered sites, three months after the standard's publication. [2]
  3. Aylo suspends Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube in France. [6]
  4. Paris Administrative Court judge suspends the order designating EU-based sites; Aylo restores access with click-through self-declaration within days. [7]
  5. Conseil d'État overturns the suspension, reinstating age-verification duties for designated EU-based sites. [4]
  6. Aylo blocks Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube in France again after the Conseil d'État decision. [10]
  7. Arcom sends formal notices to five EU-established pornographic sites. [1]
  8. Paris Administrative Court rejects Aylo's challenge to the order designating its sites. [9]
  9. Pornhub reopens in France in a safe-for-work version: explicit content is hidden and new registrations are closed. [10]
  10. EU Court of Justice (C-188/24) holds France may require age verification from porn sites based in other member states if it follows the e-commerce directive's procedure. [3]
  11. Arcom opens proceedings against 31 more pornographic sites without age verification. [12]

Courts and enforcement

  • Urgent challenge (référé) to the arrêté of 26 February 2025 (Hammy Media/xHamster, with Aylo intervening) (Tribunal administratif de Paris, then Conseil d'État, Jul 15, 2025). Paris judge suspended the arrêté on 16 June 2025; the Conseil d'État overturned that order on 15 July 2025, reinstating the duties for designated EU-based sites. Source
  • Aylo Freesites Ltd v. arrêté of 26 February 2025 (merits) (Tribunal administratif de Paris, May 22, 2026). Aylo's challenge rejected on 22 May 2026: the DSA and the e-commerce and audiovisual directives do not preclude the measure, and self-declaration of age is not enough. No appeal found as of 26 October 2026. Source
  • WebGroup Czech Republic and NKL Associates (C-188/24, joined with C-190/24 Coyote System) (Court of Justice of the European Union (Grand Chamber), on a reference from the Conseil d'État, Jun 16, 2026). Judgment of 16 June 2026: a member state may require porn sites established in another member state to verify age through individual measures, provided it first asks the home state to act and notifies the Commission (except in urgent cases). The Conseil d'État must now apply the answer; no decision found as of 26 October 2026. Source
  • Formal notices to five EU-established pornographic sites (Arcom, Aug 4, 2025). issued. Source
  • Formal notices to two further sites (Arcom, Feb 3, 2026). issued. Source
  • Proceedings against 31 non-compliant pornographic sites (13 of unknown location sent to ISPs and search engines for blocking or delisting within 48 hours; 5 French or non-EU sites sent observation letters; 13 EU-based sites handled through cooperation with their home states) (Arcom, Jul 29, 2026). ongoing. Source

Bills to watch

  • Conseil d'État ruling in the WebGroup Czech Republic case. The Conseil d'État must apply the CJEU's June 2026 answer to the Czech-based operators' challenge to France's age-verification rules. pending; no decision found as of 26 October 2026
  • Arcom July 2026 enforcement wave. Follow-up formal notices, blocking orders and EU referrals for the 31 sites targeted. ongoing

Related laws

  • Loi n° 2020-936 du 30 juillet 2020 (effective Jul 31, 2020). Clarified that a simple declaration of age does not shield sites from the Penal Code art. 227-24 offence, and gave Arcom's predecessor the power to seek court-ordered blocking.
  • Arrêté du 26 février 2025 designating EU-established pornographic services (effective Jun 7, 2025). Extended the SREN age-verification duty to 17 designated services established in other EU states, including Aylo's sites. Upheld by the Paris Administrative Court on 22 May 2026.

Sources

  1. Protection des mineurs contre la pornographie en ligne (Arcom) (arcom.fr) Regulator · accessed Oct 26, 2026
  2. Vérification de l'âge en ligne : la CNIL rend son avis sur le référentiel de l'Arcom (cnil.fr) Regulator · Oct 11, 2024
  3. CJEU press release No 87/26: Judgment in Joined Cases C-188/24 and C-190/24 (curia.europa.eu) Court · Jun 16, 2026
  4. Conseil d'État press release: protection des mineurs (arrêté du 26 février 2025) (conseil-etat.fr) Court · Jul 15, 2025
  5. Order specifying EU-wide adult websites subject to age verification requirements under the SREN law (Digital Policy Alert) (digitalpolicyalert.org) Tracker · Mar 6, 2025
  6. Owner suspends Pornhub, YouPorn, RedTube in France from Wednesday (Reuters, via Yahoo News) (yahoo.com) News · Jun 3, 2025
  7. Pornhub & co reviennent suite à la suspension de l'arrêté sur la vérification de l'âge (Next) (next.ink) News · Jun 20, 2025
  8. Contrôle de l'âge : pourquoi Youporn, Pornhub et Redtube bloquent à nouveau l'accès à leurs sites ? (Public Sénat) (publicsenat.fr) News · Jul 16, 2025
  9. Coup dur pour Pornhub : la justice française valide les contrôles d'âge (Univers Freebox) (universfreebox.com) News · Jun 8, 2026
  10. Pornhub « de retour » en France (Next) (next.ink) News · Jun 5, 2026
  11. Pornhub est de retour en France, mais risque d'en décevoir plus d'un (Journal du Geek) (journaldugeek.com) News · Jun 8, 2026
  12. Vérification d'âge : l'Arcom engage une procédure contre 31 sites pornographiques (Le Club des Juristes) (leclubdesjuristes.com) News · Jul 30, 2026
  13. 31 sites pornos dans le viseur : la plus vaste action jamais entreprise par l'Arcom (Aleteia) (fr.aleteia.org) News · Jul 30, 2026
  14. Devant l'Arcom, PornHub dénonce le contrôle d'âge par les sites (L'Informé) (linforme.com) News · Aug 28, 2026
  15. Explore the law on securing and regulating the digital space (Baker McKenzie) (connectontech.bakermckenzie.com) News · accessed Oct 26, 2026

This page is general information, not legal advice. Last verified October 26, 2026 by the Editorial Team. See something wrong or out of date? Report a correction. How we work: methodology.