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VPN services are rapidly climbing the app charts in the UK following a new law that requires age verification for porn and adult sites, which took effect Friday.
The Online Safety Act mandates adult platforms to verify users’ age and identity using facial recognition or banking details, leading many porn sites to request IDs over the weekend. The law aims to shield children from adult content. Critics argue it threatens privacy rights and risks exposing sensitive personal data.
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Proton VPN experienced a 1,400% increase in signups just after the law went into effect, making it the top app for downloads. This surge raised concerns among security analysts, as many free VPNs lack essential cybersecurity measures and may sell user data.
The Online Safety Act targets platforms like X and Reddit that may expose children to harmful content. It mandates strong verification methods like uploading IDs instead of simple one-click confirmations.
AdGuard VPN reported on Monday that UK website traffic has increased over 60%, attributing this rise to new age verification laws affecting Reddit, Discord, and adult sites. Nord Security, the company behind NordVPN, also noted a 1,000% spike in traffic starting the day before the law was implemented.
VPN services have gained popularity due to restrictions on adult content. Proton VPN reported a “significantly higher” spike in downloads than the June surge after Pornhub blocked access in France due to age verification laws. The French law, enacted in 2024, requires adult content platforms to verify users’ ages strictly.
The Online Safety Act has raised worries about potential restrictions on VPN use, which has led to a rise in VPN downloads. VPN providers with U.K. servers must already follow the Investigatory Powers Act, which requires internet service providers to keep customer data for government surveillance.
Labour proposed an amendment to the bill in 2022 aimed at cracking down on VPN use, with Member of Parliament Sarah Champion calling for regulators to assess whether private networks could undermine enforcement of internet restrictions. Champion reportedly said the bill includes “vital protections” and warned that “there is a real threat that the use of virtual private networks – VPNs – could undermine the effectiveness of these measures.”
“If VPNs cause significant issues, the government must identify those issues and find solutions, rather than avoiding difficult problems,” she added.
Platforms that fail to comply with the new law could face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue.
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