Dailymotion is mostly safe to use, but it comes with real risks that you need to understand before browsing. The French video-sharing platform serves over 300 million monthly users across 183 languages and is currently owned by Canal+, one of Europe's largest media conglomerates. It uses HTTPS encryption, follows GDPR rules, and its official apps are distributed through verified app stores
However, Dailymotion has a documented history of security failures, including an 85-million-account data breach, and its aggressive advertising, lack of child safety controls, and pirated content risks mean that taking precautions is essential. As of February 2026, here is exactly what we found.
Malware Risk: ✅ Low (on the official site)
There is no evidence that Dailymotion's official website or apps distribute malware. VirusTotal and Sucuri SiteCheck scans of Dailymotion's URL, Android APK, and iOS package all return clean results with zero malware flags. The real danger comes from malicious links embedded in video descriptions, comments, and third-party ads — not the platform itself.
Data Breach History: 🔴 Serious Past Incident
In October 2016, Dailymotion suffered a massive credential-stuffing attack that exposed 85.2 million accounts — including usernames, email addresses, and 18 million hashed passwords. The breach was reported by LeakedSource and confirmed by the BBC. While the passwords were protected with bcrypt hashing (making them hard to crack), the breach remains a significant stain on the platform's security record.
Advertising & Misleading Ads: 🔴 High Risk
Dailymotion's #1 user complaint is excessive, aggressive advertising. Trustpilot reviews consistently report being "bombarded with ads" before even finishing one video. Some ads can be misleading, mimicking download buttons or system alerts. These "malvertising" attacks have affected Dailymotion in the past — in 2014, malicious ads on the site redirected visitors to fake antivirus scam pages.
Privacy & Data Collection: ⚠️ Moderate Concern
Dailymotion collects standard user data (IP address, device info, browsing behaviour) and shares it with advertising partners. Since 2018, the platform has been GDPR-compliant, giving EU users more control over their data. However, the sheer volume of ad-network trackers on the site means your browsing is heavily monitored without a VPN.
Child Safety: ⚠️ No Dedicated Kids Mode
Unlike YouTube (which offers YouTube Kids), Dailymotion has no dedicated child-safe mode. It does have an "Age Gate" feature enabled by default that restricts age-restricted content, but it relies on a simple self-declaration (clicking "I am over 18") and is trivially easy to bypass. Parental supervision is essential.
Legality: ✅ Legal Platform
Dailymotion is a legitimate, legally registered company headquartered in Paris. However, users may encounter pirated or copyrighted content uploaded by third parties — watching such content can carry legal risk in some jurisdictions.
The 2016 data breach was a watershed moment for Dailymotion's security posture. Since then, the platform has implemented significant improvements:
These measures do not erase the 2016 breach, but they represent a genuine effort to rebuild trust. No major security incidents have been publicly reported since.
While the platform itself is clean, the risks come from three vectors:
1. Malicious Links in Descriptions and Comments
Attackers embed phishing links in video descriptions and comments that lead to fake login pages, malware downloads, or "update" scams. ExpressVPN confirms: "There haven't been any confirmed cases of Dailymotion itself distributing malware, risks arise from external links".
2. Malvertising (Malicious Advertising)
Dailymotion's ad-supported model means heavy ad placement across the site. In 2014, the platform was hit by a documented "malvertising" attack where ads redirected visitors to fake antivirus scam pages. While Dailymotion has improved its ad screening since then, the sheer volume of ads still creates accidental-click risk, especially on mobile.
3. Pirated and Copyrighted Content
Because anyone can upload to Dailymotion, the platform contains significant amounts of pirated movies, TV shows, and music. Dailymotion has been found liable for copyright infringement by French courts multiple times, including a €1.3 million fine in 2014 for hosting unauthorized TF1 content. Watching clearly pirated content can expose you to legal risk.
Not without supervision. While Dailymotion is not inherently dangerous for children, it lacks the dedicated safety infrastructure that YouTube provides:
Recommendation for parents: If your child uses Dailymotion, enable the Age Gate, supervise browsing sessions, and consider using a content-filtering DNS service (like CleanBrowsing or OpenDNS Family Shield) alongside a VPN for additional protection.
Dailymotion
YouTube
Key takeaway: YouTube is the safer platform overall, particularly for children. However, Dailymotion offers less content censorship and more relaxed upload policies, which is why some creators and viewers prefer it.
Dailymotion is blocked or restricted in several countries:
If you are traveling to or living in one of these countries, you will need to download a VPN to access Dailymotion.
Every time you watch a video on Dailymotion without a VPN, the platform's ad networks capture your IP address, approximate location, device fingerprint, and browsing patterns. Here is what a VPN changes:
How to set up VPN - Super Unlimited Proxy:
VPN - Super Unlimited Proxy gives you the privacy layer that makes streaming on any platform significantly safer.
Is Dailymotion safe from viruses?
Yes, the platform itself does not host malware. VirusTotal and Sucuri scans of Dailymotion's website and apps return clean results. The virus risk comes from malicious external links in video descriptions, comments, and third-party ads, not from the Dailymotion player itself.
Is Dailymotion safe from hackers?
No platform is completely safe from hackers. In 2016, Dailymotion suffered a data breach exposing 85.2 million accounts. Since then, the platform has implemented HTTPS encryption, GDPR compliance, and IP blocking. Use a unique password and enable 2FA on your account.
Is the Dailymotion app safe?
Yes, when downloaded from official sources. The Dailymotion app on the App Store and Google Play is verified and does not contain malware. Do not download Dailymotion APKs from unofficial third-party sites.
Is Dailymotion safe for kids?
Not without parental supervision. Dailymotion has no dedicated kids mode (unlike YouTube Kids). An Age Gate exists but is easily bypassed. Content containing nudity, violence, and strong language is present on the platform.
Is Dailymotion legal?
Yes. Dailymotion is a legally registered company owned by Canal+ and headquartered in Paris. However, some user-uploaded content may be pirated or copyrighted — streaming such content can carry legal risk depending on your jurisdiction.
Is Dailymotion safe on iPhone?
Yes. The Dailymotion iOS app is distributed through Apple's App Store, which scans all apps for malware before publication. Combined with iOS's sandboxed architecture, the Dailymotion app on iPhone is safe to use.
Why is Dailymotion blocked in some countries?
Dailymotion is blocked in China (Great Firewall), Russia (copyright court order since 2017), and Kazakhstan (since 2011). A VPN is required to access the platform from these regions.
Dailymotion is a legitimate platform, but its aggressive ads, lack of child safety controls, and data breach history mean you should never browse without protection. Encrypt your connection and hide your IP from ad trackers with VPN - Super Unlimited Proxy, fast and trusted by millions of users worldwide.
