A sweeping anti-sexual violence bill could criminalize the platforms and business models that drive significant revenue in the French adult market.
The French Parliament is currently debating legislation that could effectively ban OnlyFans, MYM, and similar direct-to-consumer adult content platforms within the country’s borders. For adult webmasters and affiliates, this represents a significant regulatory threat to one of Europe’s largest markets—and a potential template for similar crackdowns across the continent.
The Legislation: Article 25
The bill, championed by Socialist MP Céline Thiébault-Martinez and backed by a multipartisan coalition of feminist lawmakers, contains around 69 articles addressing gender-based and sexual violence. Article 25 is the provision keeping adult industry executives up at night.
In its current form, Article 25 would criminalize:
- “Helping, assisting, or protecting the remote performance by a person of acts of a sexual nature in exchange for payment”
- “Acting as an intermediary knowing the nature of the service” between sellers and buyers of online sexual content
The penalties are severe: up to 7 years in prison and fines of €500,000 (approximately $573,000) for platform operators and intermediaries. Consumers aren’t spared either—violators face fines of €1,500 for first offenses and €3,000 for repeat violations.
The Scale of the French Market
To understand the impact, consider the numbers. According to reporting from Le Monde, over 2 million people in France visit OnlyFans monthly, with 3 million using MYM. These figures don’t include dedicated camming sites where “tipping” models is the core business model.
The bill’s language is intentionally broad. While it doesn’t explicitly name any company, the target is unmistakable: any platform that facilitates paid sexual content between creators and consumers could fall under its scope. This includes not just OnlyFans and MYM, but also LoyalFans, Fansly, and traditional webcam platforms.
What This Means for Affiliates
For affiliates promoting adult cam sites and subscription platforms, this legislation presents immediate operational challenges:
Traffic Monetization Disruption
French traffic has historically been valuable in the adult space. If the bill passes, promoting platforms that become illegal in France could expose affiliates to liability—particularly if they’re seen as “acting as an intermediary” between French consumers and adult content creators.
Geographic Redirection Requirements
Affiliates may need to implement sophisticated geo-blocking or redirection systems to ensure French visitors aren’t served ads or links to platforms that could be criminalized. This adds technical overhead and reduces addressable audience size.
Program Terminations
Expect adult affiliate programs to update their terms of service to explicitly prohibit promotion in France, or to reduce commission rates for French traffic as conversion rates plummet due to access restrictions.
Payment Processing Complications
If platforms are forced to exit the French market, affiliates may see delayed or withheld payments as companies navigate the regulatory transition. French affiliates specifically could face frozen accounts or payment processor scrutiny.
Industry Response
Adult industry attorney Corey Silverstein, speaking to AVN, articulated the sector’s core concern: “Preventing sexual violence and exploitation is essential, but legislation must distinguish abuse from consensual adult expression.”
Silverstein warned that “broad, poorly defined criminal prohibitions can push creators into less transparent environments and make exploitation harder to detect”—a sentiment that resonates with webmasters who’ve watched regulatory crackdowns inadvertently harm the very workers they’re meant to protect.
The French bill follows a similar pattern to legislation adopted by Sweden’s Riksdag in 2025, which criminalized the purchase of “remote” online sexual services. That law explicitly named OnlyFans throughout its text and has already disrupted the Swedish market for creator platforms.
The Broader European Context
France isn’t operating in a vacuum. The European Union has been increasingly aggressive in regulating adult content, from the Digital Services Act’s age verification requirements to ongoing debates about pornography blocking at the ISP level.
If France successfully implements this model, expect copycat legislation in other EU member states. The Nordic countries, with their history of client criminalization in physical sex work, are particularly likely candidates. Germany, with its large domestic adult industry, could face pressure to follow suit.
For webmasters operating pan-European affiliate campaigns, this creates a fragmented regulatory landscape requiring country-by-country compliance strategies.
Practical Recommendations
Immediate Actions:
- Audit Your Traffic Sources — Identify what percentage of your traffic originates from France. If it’s significant, start diversifying traffic acquisition toward more permissive jurisdictions.
- Review Platform Terms — Check if your promoted programs have issued guidance on French traffic. Some may already be restricting promotion or adjusting payouts.
- Implement Geo-Detection — Consider adding French IP detection to serve alternative offers or non-adult content to visitors from France, protecting both you and your users.
- Diversify Revenue Streams — If you’re heavily dependent on cam/OnlyFans-style affiliate programs, explore alternatives: adult gaming, dating, toys, or content sites with clearer legal standing in restrictive jurisdictions.
Long-Term Strategy:
The trend toward platform criminalization is accelerating. Webmasters should prepare for a future where direct-to-consumer adult content faces significant barriers in major Western markets. Building resilient, diversified affiliate portfolios—and maintaining flexibility to pivot between offers as regulations shift—will be essential for survival.
What’s Next
Debate on the bill began September 21, 2026. The legislation must pass both the Assemblée Nationale and the Sénat before becoming law, a process that could take months. Amendments may narrow or broaden Article 25’s scope.
For now, the message to adult webmasters is clear: the French market is entering a period of regulatory uncertainty. Those who monitor developments closely and adapt quickly will be best positioned to weather whatever comes next.
