Judgment: C-188/24 WebGroup Czech Republic and NKL Associates and C-190/24 Coyote System
On Tuesday 16 June 2026, the Court of Justice delivered its judgment in Joined Cases C-188/24 WebGroup Czech Republic and NKL Associates and C-190/24 Coyote System.
In this case, the Court examined whether a Member State may impose restrictions on digital services provided from another Member State, and under what conditions the operators of these services could be held liable for the information they store and circulate.
To protect public order and security, French legislation restricts certain digital services. Notably, it
- requires the publishers of pornographic websites to put in place age verification systems in order to protect children
- prohibits the reporting of certain roadside inspections, limiting driving assistance services
WebGroup Czech Republic and NKL Associates, which operate pornographic websites, and Coyote System, a provider of driving assistance services, have challenged these measures. They argue that the legislation infringes the “country of origin” principle set out in the E-Commerce Directive, under which services falling within the “coordinated field” are governed by the law of the Member State where the provider is established. The French Council of State has referred the matter to the Court of Justice.
In the short video below, Thomas von Danwitz, Vice-President of the Court of Justice, explains the Court’s ruling in these cases. Subtitles are available in all EU languages and may be activated by clicking the “Subtitles” icon.
You can also consult the press release for more information.
