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Germany: JMStV and the KJM – age checks for adult sites

Rule in forceSummary of the official sources · checked 15 October 2026 · Not legal advice.
This page is a draft. Facts we have not verified against a primary source are left out, not guessed.

Germany’s youth media protection rules are set by the Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Minors in the Media (JMStV) and supervised by the Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Media (KJM).

LawJMStV (Jugendmedienschutz-Staatsvertrag)
RegulatorKJM (via the Landesmedienanstalten)
In force since1 April 2003
PenaltiesAdministrative fine up to €500,000 for offering pornography online outside a closed user group (JMStV § 24 Abs. 1 Nr. 2, Abs. 3).

What it asks for

Pornographic content may only be offered online if the provider ensures it is accessible only to adults through a closed user group (geschlossene Benutzergruppe), JMStV § 4 Abs. 2. The KJM sets the requirements for such systems (§ 4 Abs. 4).

Sources

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