Spanish residents wishing to access online pornography will soon be required to use a government-issued mobile application with a digital ID code and a limited number of credits. This comes after Dale Una Vuelta, an anti-pornography group campaigning for stricter regulations, released alarming statistics revealing the widespread consumption of porn among minors in Spain.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his concerns, stating, “The data is devastating. Almost half of young people under 15 years of age consume it.” Spanish government spokesperson Pilar Alegria has called the app “pioneering in Europe,” as the EU plans to introduce such digital passes by 2027.
Dubbed the “pajaporte” (a play on words translating as “masturbation pass”), the application is set to be available “by the end of the summer.” Officially known as Cartera Digital Beta (Digital Wallet Beta), it functions as a mobile phone wallet, verifying the user’s age using one of five forms of government-issued ID.
Once verified as 18 or older, users will receive 30 “credits” valid for a month. A QR code will need to be scanned in order to access adult websites, and each credential can only be reused with the same content provider ten times, presumably to protect user privacy.
The Spanish Ministry of Digital Transformation has stated that the rules apply to Spain-based porn providers, but the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) will also maintain a list of foreign providers in order to enforce the verification requirement through web browsers. The government is reportedly asking social media platforms and messaging apps for collaboration on the scheme as well.
Once the EU law on age verification comes into effect, in October 2027, it is likely that the “pajaporte” will be replaced by the bloc’s digital identity system known as eIDAS2.