France 2025: Porn Age Gates, ‘Double Anonymity,’ and Zero-Knowledge Proofs Explained
France 2025: Porn Age Gates, ‘Double Anonymity,’ and Zero-Knowledge Proofs Explained
France has rolled out new age checks for adult websites, backed by rules from media regulator Arcom. These rules kicked in early 2025 after a short grace period, and the country’s highest court confirmed in July that they’re here to stay.
📊 Quick Overview
| What’s new? | Adult sites in France must check users’ ages using systems that protect privacy — at least one method must meet the “double anonymity” rule. |
|---|---|
| When did it start? | Rules published Oct 11, 2024 → enforced from Jan 11, 2025. A temporary bank card option ended Apr 11, 2025. |
| How it works | You’re sent to an independent age checker. The site never sees your ID, and the checker never knows which site you’re visiting. You’re checked each time you visit. |
| If sites ignore it | Arcom can fine them or tell internet providers to block them in France — often in just a couple of days. |
| Where ZKPs fit | Zero-knowledge proofs aren’t required, but the rules encourage privacy-first tech. ZKPs tick all the boxes and are already in testing. |
| What VPN do you recommend? | We recommend Proton VPN for privacy and security. |
🇫🇷 What Changed?
- The law behind it. France’s 2024 SREN law told Arcom to set out clear rules for porn site age checks that balance accuracy with privacy. The final version came out Oct 11, 2024.
- Deadlines. Sites had three months to comply (by Jan 11, 2025). A simple bank card check was allowed until Apr 11, 2025.
- Penalties. If a site doesn’t follow the rules, Arcom can fine them and order blocks by internet or DNS providers — sometimes in under 48 hours.
- Court decision. On Jul 15, 2025, the Conseil d’État (France’s top admin court) refused to pause the rules, so they still apply to all targeted sites, even ones based elsewhere in the EU.
🔐 The “Double Anonymity” Rule
The goal is to make sure your ID isn’t sitting in a porn site’s database.
- Separate roles. An independent company checks your age — not the site itself.
- Two layers of privacy.
- The site only gets a “yes” or “no” for “over 18,” nothing else.
- The verifier knows who you are for the check, but not which site you’re visiting.
- Session-by-session checks. Every visit is checked. Systems have to stop fake images, deepfakes, and other workarounds.
- Choice for users. Sites must offer at least one double-anonymity method, and it should be available to most adults in France. Many offer two — like an ID scan and an AI age guess.
Think of it as an ID firewall: the porn site and your ID never touch.
🧪 How Zero-Knowledge Proofs Fit In
A zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) lets you prove something is true — like “I’m over 18” — without showing the actual data (like your birthday).
- Not required, but welcome. Arcom’s rules don’t name ZKPs, but they love the idea of sharing only the bare minimum. ZKPs do exactly that.
- Europe-wide interest. The EU’s digital ID program is testing ZKPs for proof-of-age. In July 2025, Google even open-sourced code for privacy-friendly age checks.
- French push. Privacy and Web3 groups in France told Arcom ZKPs should be allowed. Now some companies are offering proof-of-age tokens that follow the rules.
What this could mean for you: in the near future, you might show a cryptographic “18+” badge from a wallet app — without ever handing over your name, address, or ID number.
🧭 What It Looks Like for Users
- You visit an adult site. The main page is hidden until you pass the age check.
- You get sent to a trusted verifier or asked to use an approved app.
- You verify once — maybe with a document scan, NFC ID, or a facial age check.
- The site gets a one-time “adult” or “not adult” answer. Your ID never goes to the site, and the verifier never learns which site you were visiting.
France’s official France Identité app already lets you make single-use identity proofs. It’s not quite ZKP, but it’s moving in that direction.
🧑💻 What Sites Have to Do
- Give users at least one option that meets the double-anonymity standard, and clearly show how private each method is.
- Run the check every session and stop spoofing tricks.
- Use independent verifiers — don’t collect IDs directly.
- Know that ignoring the rules can mean fines and blocks.
Some site owners are already testing ZKP-ready systems or ID wallet integrations so they’re ready for EU-wide changes.
🗓️ Key Dates
- Oct 11, 2024 — Arcom publishes the standard.
- Jan 11, 2025 — Age checks go live.
- Apr 11, 2025 — End of bank-card option.
- Feb 26, 2025 — Rules applied to certain EU-based providers.
- Jul 15, 2025 — Conseil d’État keeps the rules in place.
❓ Common Questions
Are ZKPs already in use in France?
Some services are testing them, but they’re not mandatory. The privacy rule is — ZKPs are just one way to hit that target.
Do I have to send my ID to a porn site?
No. Your ID goes to the verifier, not the site, and the site only sees a yes/no answer.
Can sites get blocked in France?
Yes. Arcom can fine them and have internet providers or DNS services block access.
⚠️ This guide is for information only. If you run a site affected by these rules, talk to a lawyer to make sure you’re covered.