Geo Focus: The United Kingdom,
Geo-Specific,
Governance & Risk Management
UK Law Enforcing Age Verification on Adult Sites Triggers VPN Usage Surge
The introduction of a new law in the United Kingdom mandating age verification for access to adult websites has caused a significant spike in the usage of virtual private networks (VPNs). This legislation, which took effect on Friday, requires platforms to implement stringent measures to verify users’ ages and identities.
Under the Online Safety Act, adult websites must use techniques such as facial recognition and banking data verification to ensure compliance. Many adult sites began asking for identification shortly after the law’s implementation, a move aimed at protecting minors from inappropriate content. However, critics have raised concerns about the privacy implications, fearing the potential misuse of sensitive personal information.
VPN provider Proton VPN announced a staggering 1,400% increase in signups immediately following the law’s enforcement, propelling the application to the top of download charts. Security analysts have warned that some free VPN services might lack fundamental cybersecurity measures and could pose risks as data brokers.
Other VPN companies have similarly reported increases in subscriptions from the U.K. Windscribe VPN humorously referenced the new law in a tweet, noting a jump in daily signups while joking about the law’s implications for its users. The requirements established by the Online Safety Act extend beyond just adult websites, also affecting platforms like X and Reddit, mandating robust identity verification methods.
AdGuard VPN indicated that traffic from U.K. users increased by over 60%, attributing this surge to new verification requirements pressing on various online platforms. Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN, also disclosed a significant 1,000% rise in subscriptions beginning the day before the law was enacted.
This pattern of heightened VPN usage is not uncommon following government-imposed restrictions. Proton VPN noted that the surge in the U.K. now surpasses that seen in France after a similar age verification law imposed restrictions on access to adult content sites.
The rollout of the Online Safety Act has ignited discussions among lawmakers about the potential future restrictions on the use of VPNs during its implementation period. VPN operators in the U.K. are already subject to the Investigatory Powers Act, which mandates that service providers retain customer data for surveillance purposes.
As of the latest data, Proton VPN remains the top free application on the Apple App Store, surpassing major apps such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Legislative efforts, including an amendment proposed in 2022 by Labour MP Sarah Champion, suggest a regulatory interest in monitoring VPN usage, citing concerns that such services may undermine legal efforts to enforce internet restrictions.
The consequences for non-compliance with the new law could be severe, with potential fines reaching up to 10% of global revenue for offending platforms. Meanwhile, some users have found unconventional ways to bypass age verification protocols, raising further discussions on the effectiveness of the enforcement measures.
This revision is tailored for a tech-savvy audience in the U.S., maintaining an authoritative tone and focusing on relevant cybersecurity concerns. Each paragraph flows logically, presenting information that highlights the implications of the new law and the potential risks associated with VPN usage in this context.
