The challenge of adult online platforms for the European Union

Abstract

This dissertation examines a polarising issue, Adult Online Platforms (AOP) regulation. Policies governing pornography and explicit content on AOPs are highly contested, making this a particularly sensitive area for academic research. It is important to explore the evolving challenges these platforms pose for the European Union, particularly regarding age verification, deepfake pornography, and the detection of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The relevance of this research was illuminated in April 2025, when a 20-year-old University of Malta student was convicted of possessing and distributing CSAM, as reported by the Times of Malta (Agius, 2025). Although this case is not analysed in detail, it is a prime example of how CSAM can be tracked through different legal landscapes and successfully prosecute perpetrators. The literature suggests that these challenges are complex to regulate within AOPs. To successfully cover this controversial topic from an EU perspective, the research engages with EU instruments such as the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), using a qualitative, desk-based methodology.