Pixiv Expands Obscene Content Restrictions to More Countries

Pixiv has announced a major update to its Terms of Service, expanding its content restrictions to new regions. The measure is part of the “Restrictions for Healthy Expression in Specific Countries and Regions,” first implemented in the United Kingdom and the United States in 2024.

Starting in October 2025, the Pixiv content restrictions will also apply to countries in the European Union, and from November 11, to Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

According to the official statement, these changes were made to ensure the service complies with the laws and regulations of each country where the platform operates. As a result, users in these regions will no longer be able to view or post certain works that fall under the restricted categories.

What changes with the new Pixiv restrictions?

The new Pixiv content restrictions include the prohibition of materials involving child pornography, non-consensual sexual acts (including AI-generated and deepfake content), revenge pornography, snuff, and incest.

In addition to these specific categories, other rules are more subjective, banning content deemed “obscene,” “inappropriate,” or “offensive according to community standards,” especially when the material lacks artistic, literary, political, or scientific value.

Although the guidelines are unified across all affected regions, the level of enforcement may vary depending on local laws.

The reason behind the changes

According to Pixiv, the main goal of these new restrictions is to ensure legal compliance and create a safer environment for users worldwide. The company also stated that additional changes may be made in the future as local laws evolve.

The announcement highlights that the platform “may add new clauses or adjustments to comply with regional laws, aiming to create a safe and comfortable space for people around the world.”