Age verification on a global scale: how different countries are approaching access to sensitive content

The exposure of minors to sensitive material such as online pornography has led many governments to enforce mandatory age verification systems. However, approaches vary widely across countries — some enforce strict measures using advanced technologies, while others rely on voluntary models or outright censorship.

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n every case, a common debate arises: can we protect minors without compromising adult privacy?

France: mandatory age verification with anonymity guaranteed 

Since January 2025, France has required pornographic websites to verify users’ ages through robust systems such as biometric selfies or document checks. This obligation, established by ARCOM (the Regulatory Authority for Audiovisual and Digital Communication), aims to reduce access by the approximately 2.3 million minors who visit such sites each month (representing 12% of total visitors, according to official data). 

The model includes a “double anonymity” system, which ensures that the website does not know the user’s identity—only that they are over 18—while the verification provider has no knowledge of which site is being accessed. 

United Kingdom: the most comprehensive regulatory approach 

The United Kingdom has adopted an ambitious stance through the Online Safety Act, which comes into force in July 2025. The legislation requires all platforms hosting pornographic content — including social media — to implement robust age verification technologies. Ofcom, the national regulator, has published a list of approved methods, which includes open banking, facial recognition, identity document verification, checks with mobile network operators, and digital identity services (Ofcom, 2024). 

Germany: digital identity as a legal requirement 

Germany enforces strict regulation through the KJM (Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Media), which for years has required mandatory age verification to access adult content websites. Accepted methods include official document readers, authentication via digital identity services, or electronic ID cards (eID). This integration with state-backed systems ensures a high level of security and control. 

Italy: mandatory verification through SPID 

Italy, for its part, has required since 2024 that websites hosting sensitive content verify users’ ages via SPID (Public Digital Identity System). This is a national platform promoted by the Italian government that enables citizens to securely access both public and private digital services. Its implementation ensures not only the authenticity of the user’s identity but also provides a clear regulatory framework for the protection of personal data. In the context of accessing adult content, SPID has become the only officially recognised system for complying with the country’s age verification requirements. 

Denmark and the United States: contrasting models 

• Denmark: The country has adopted a more flexible approach. Although there is no strict legal obligation, the government has promoted partnerships between content platforms and public bodies to encourage the voluntary use of age verification services. Awareness campaigns and best practice guidelines have been funded to support this effort. 

• United States: Since June 2024, 19 states have passed laws requiring age verification to access pornographic content. Louisiana, Utah, and Texas have led the way, using methods such as official ID checks or cross-verification through banking data. The absence of federal legislation has resulted in an uneven landscape, with regulations varying widely from state to state. 

Other relevant jurisdictions 

• China, Iran, Saudi Arabia: Rather than implementing age verification, these countries enforce direct censorship. Access to pornographic websites is completely blocked through national firewalls and deep packet inspection (DPI) technologies. 

• Spain, Poland, Czech Republic: Although no specific legislation is currently in place, countries such as Spain are actively debating proposals aligned with the European Digital Regulation. In 2024, Spain’s Ministry for Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation announced that it is working on a regulation to introduce age verification systems with strong privacy safeguards. 

The role of the Digital Services Act 

The Digital Services Act (DSA) is a European regulation in force since 2023, aimed at strengthening the responsibility of digital platforms across the European Union. Among its many provisions, it requires very large platforms — those with over 45 million active users — to implement measures to protect minors from harmful content, including pornography. 

In the specific case of access to adult content, the DSA does not mandate the use of a particular technology, but it does require the application of effective age verification mechanisms. As a result, some Member States have begun legislating more strictly, while others are accelerating the development of solutions that comply with both privacy standards and EU regulation, such as the EUDI Wallet. 

Emerging technologies: the EUDI Wallet and enhanced privacy 

The European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet), a project led by the European Commission as part of the eIDAS 2.0 programme, offers an alternative approach based on two key principles: 

• Selective disclosure: allowing users to prove they are over 18 without revealing any additional personal information. 

• Non-traceability: using zero-knowledge proofs to ensure that users cannot be linked to specific websites or tracked across platforms. 

This may offer a path to reconciling privacy protection with regulatory compliance. 

As the exposure of minors to sensitive content remains a critical issue, governments continue to explore different strategies. The success of future age verification solutions will depend on the ability to balance regulation, technology, and respect for individual privacy. 

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