The Digital Services Act (DSA) requires companies to conduct risk management, undergo external and independent auditing, and share data with authorities and researchers. However, it usually requires this from firms with large user bases like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta.

Such designated companies will have to do more to tackle disinformation, give users more protection and choice, and ensure more robust security for children or risk fines of as much as six per cent of their global turnover.

The bloc's industry chief Thierry Breton said: "Pornhub, Stripchat and XVideos meet the user thresholds to fall under stricter DSA obligations… Creating a safer online environment for our children is an enforcement priority under the DSA."

Canada-based Pornhub said it had 33 million average monthly users as of July 31, falling below the required level.

However, the EU says that the designation can be based not only on the user numbers reported by the company but also on information from third parties or alternative sources.

XVideos had earlier said it has 160 million uses in the EU. Stripchat claims to have over 500 million users globally.