Digital Services Act: User figures for porn platforms in the EU collapse

Conspicuous drop in user numbers for the four largest European porn websites: XNXX, XVideos, Pornhub and Stripchat report significantly fewer users in their new transparency reports, which have become mandatory for them under the Digital Services Act (DSA), than in the previous six months. Accordingly, only XNXX would still be considered a very large online platform (VLOP) within the meaning of the regulation. These must comply with special due diligence obligations.

According to the DSA, VLOPs are services that reach an average of more than ten percent of the EU population or more than 45 million citizens in the member states. Based on these criteria, the EU Commission initially classified the adult portals Pornhub, Stripchat and XVideos as VLOPs in December 2023. Since July, XNXX has also had to adhere to the strictest DSA requirements.

XVideos, which, like XNXX, is reportedly operated by Prague-based WGCZ Holding, has seen a particularly sharp decline in users. In August 2024, the platform reported an average of 84 million users in the EU. A year earlier, the figure was 150 million. For February 2025, XVideos only cites 31 million users.

Visitors use "incognito" browsers

The operator explained the drastic drop in 2024 by saying that it was impossible to calculate an exact figure until recently due to the large proportion of visitors using incognito browsers. "However, based on our experience and our rule of thumb, we estimated that we were above the quota of 45 million individual EU users per month." He therefore "simply published the highest figure to avoid speculation and wasting time".

In the meantime, however, the XVideos operator claims to have found a way to provide more precise information. "We now know that in the EU, almost 40 percent of our users visit the website in incognito sessions," it says. Many were apparently "very concerned about their privacy". This makes it possible to calculate "more realistic figures", with less multiple counting of the same people.

XNXX currently reports 46 million average monthly users in the EU, compared to 77 million in August. The reason for the massive drop is the same as for XVideos. Pornhub claims to have had an average of 26.6 million monthly EU users at the beginning of the year. Stripchat reported roughly the same figure in August. In the period from June to November 2024 , however, the number of monthly users from the EU is said to have fallen to just under 20 million.

Constant dispute over user numbers

There has been a dispute over the number of users of porn sites since the Platform Act came into force. Observers believe that the number of reported visitors is far too low. In March 2024, Pornhub, Stripchat and XVideos announced that they would take legal action against the new obligations. Aylo, the owner of Pornhub, argued, among other things, that the Commission had miscalculated the user numbers.

A legal dispute between Aylo and the EU Commission over advertising archives has now ended up before the European Court of Justice (ECJ). In June, the EU Commission nevertheless demanded additional information from the three sex platforms on the protection of minors and action against illegal content.

Operators of very large platforms must carry out risk assessments and minimize any identified threats to democracy, public safety, fundamental rights and the protection of minors. For providers of adult content, this means preventing minors from accessing it, for example with age verification tools. VLOPs should also share their data and information on algorithms with authorities, researchers and civil society organizations so that they can review their working methods and contribute to a picture of the situation. The publication of an advertising archive is also necessary.

A spokesperson for the EU Commission told Euractiv magazine that it is "closely monitoring market developments". If a VLOP falls below the threshold value, a reclassification is conceivable. The general DSA obligations would then apply to the platform concerned. This includes providing user-friendly mechanisms for reporting illegal content, clearly labeling advertising and issuing annual transparency reports.

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