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).
| Law | JMStV (Jugendmedienschutz-Staatsvertrag) |
| Regulator | KJM (via the Landesmedienanstalten) |
| In force since | 1 April 2003 |
| Penalties | Administrative fine up to €500,000 for offering pornography online outside a closed user group (JMStV § 24 Abs. 1 Nr. 2, Abs. 3). |
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).
JMStV § 4 Abs. 2 asks for a closed user group that ensures only adults have access; a button doesn't identify anyone. A lawyer can confirm whether that's you.
JMStV § 2(1) covers providers outside Germany whose service is intended for use in Germany, with limits for providers in other EU countries. A lawyer can confirm whether that's you.
Not legal advice. This page summarises and links to primary sources; it does not tell you what the law requires of your specific site.