By Michael McGrady Jr
October 14, 2026 · 12:47 PM·2 min read
LUXEMBOURG—A European Union court ruled in favor of regulators classifying the adult camming website Stripchat as a very-large online platform under the bloc's sweeping Digital Services Act.
As AVN reported, the parent company of Stripchat sued the European Commission arguing that the classification of the platform as a very-large online platform (VLOP) was wrongheaded. Under the EU Digital Services Act, websites classified as very-large online platforms are subject to higher levels of regulatory scrutiny and requirements to protect user data, protect minors, and ensure age assurance.
The VLOP classification is determined by total web traffic from the shared digital space of EU member states, typically a 45 million user threshold, or at the discretion of the European Commission regulators.
Regulators removed the VLOP classification in 2025 but the litigation that was before the General Court of the European Union, in Luxembourg, was filed in early 2023 alongside the parent companies of other popular adult platforms, including Pornhub and XVideos.
Despite the reclassification in 2025, attorneys representing Technius Ltd., the Cyprus-based parent of the cam website, kept the case going challenging whether the European Commission had authority to initially classify Stripchat as a VLOP back in 2023.
Attorneys for Technius argued that Stripchat should not be subject to mandated supervisory fees or the direct oversight under the European Commission, hoping to set a legal precedent in related litigation.
The General Court, however, ruled in the immediate ruling that the commission acted lawfully when it utilized disputed audience data at the time to justify the decision of calling Stripchat a VLOP under the Digital Services Act. MLex.com reports that while Stripchat was reclassified, the obligations that are attached with being a VLOP didn't immediately end, but annuling that status neither wiped original designations made at the beginning of DSA law enforcement nor erased prior legal impacts.
Core to Stripchat's legal argument is the reliability of audience data sources, and whether regulators dismissed data contributions from the company itself. The dispute also focused on whether the corrections made to audience data that resulted in Stripchat losing its VLOP status undermined the legality of the original designation by the EU.
A spokesperson for Stripchat, via a statement to MLex.com reporter Sara Brandstätter, said that it is considering an appeal to a higher EU court. The spokesperson said, "We are reviewing the judgment with our legal advisors and considering the appropriate next steps, including the possibility of an appeal."
The spokesperson added, "We remain committed to strengthening our safeguards, engaging constructively with the relevant authorities, and maintaining a safe and responsible environment for adult users while preventing access by minors."
Fuente: avn.com
