VPN Demand Surges As British Online Safety Takes Effect

Uploaded on 2025-07-28 in NEWS-Cybersecurity News, GOVERNMENT-National, FREE TO VIEW

The introduction of the UK’s Online Safety Act 2023, which came into effect on 25 July 2025, has sparked a significant increase in demand for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) across the country. The legislation, designed to enhance online safety, particularly for children, imposes stringent age verification requirements on platforms hosting adult content.

This has led to a reported 1,400% surge in VPN sign-ups, as users seek to bypass these new restrictions, raising concerns about privacy and the effectiveness of the law.

Online Safety Act: Key Requirements

The Online Safety Act 2023, which received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023, represents a comprehensive overhaul of internet regulation in the UK. Overseen by Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, the Act mandates that platforms with UK users - including social media, search engines, and pornography providers - implement robust measures to protect children from harmful content. A cornerstone of the legislation is the requirement for “highly effective” age verification on sites hosting pornographic material, ensuring children cannot access such content.

Methods include facial age estimation, photo ID matching, credit card checks, or mobile network operator verification. Platforms must also prevent children from encountering content promoting suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, or dangerous activities, with algorithms adjusted to filter out harmful material from children’s feeds.

Ofcom’s enforcement powers are formidable, with fines of up to £18 million or 10% of a company’s global revenue for non-compliance, alongside potential criminal liability for senior executives. In extreme cases, Ofcom can seek court orders to block non-compliant sites in the UK. The Act applies extra-territorially, meaning international platforms serving UK audiences must comply, regardless of their operational base.

Impact on Pornography Providers

The Act’s age verification requirements have profoundly affected both UK-based and international pornography providers. Major platforms like Pornhub have committed to implementing regulator-approved age assurance methods, such as facial recognition or ID checks, by the 25 July deadline. OnlyFans already employs facial age verification software, while Reddit has introduced checks for mature content using third-party tools like Persona. Over 6,000 adult content sites have adopted similar measures. However, smaller providers face challenges, with some reportedly ceasing operations in the UK due to the high costs of compliance. Industry insiders suggest that some smaller sites may initially ignore the rules, awaiting Ofcom’s enforcement response before acting.

The legislation has also raised privacy concerns. Critics, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, argue that collecting sensitive data, such as ID documents or facial scans, creates risks of data breaches or misuse. Jason Nurse, a cyber expert at the University of Kent, has warned that centralised databases holding personal information could become targets for malicious actors, potentially leading to blackmail or extortion.

Surge In VPN Usage

The implementation of the Act has driven a dramatic increase in VPN usage, with Proton VPN reporting a 1,400% spike in sign-ups within minutes of the law’s enforcement, and NordVPN noting a 1,000% rise in UK subscriptions. VPNs allow users to mask their IP addresses, making it appear as though they are accessing the internet from outside the UK, thereby bypassing age verification checks. This surge mirrors patterns observed in other countries, such as France, where similar restrictions led to temporary increases in VPN interest. However, the UK’s uptick has been notably sustained, suggesting widespread public concern about privacy and surveillance.

Ofcom has cautioned against using VPNs to circumvent the Act, stating that platforms must not host content encouraging such behaviour.

The regulator also advises parents to monitor or restrict VPN usage by children, as it undermines the Act’s protective measures. Despite this, posts on X indicate strong public sentiment against the legislation, with some users viewing it as an overreach into personal freedoms.

What Is A VPN?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a technology that creates a secure, encrypted connection over the internet between a user’s device and a remote server, allowing private and anonymous online activity. It masks the user’s IP address, making it appear as though their internet traffic originates from the VPN server’s location, which can be anywhere in the world. This enhances privacy, bypasses geographical restrictions, and protects data from interception.

A VPN operates by establishing an encrypted “tunnel” for data transmission. When a user connects to a VPN:

Encryption: The VPN client on the user’s device encrypts their internet traffic using protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard, or IKEv2/IPSec. This scrambles the data, making it unreadable to anyone intercepting it, such as hackers or internet service providers (ISPs).

IP Address Masking: The user’s real IP address, which reveals their location and identity, is replaced with the IP address of the VPN server. This allows users to appear as if they are browsing from a different country or region.

Data Routing: All internet traffic is routed through the VPN server, which decrypts the data and forwards it to the intended destination (e.g., a website). Responses from the destination are sent back through the server, encrypted again, and delivered to the user.

Authentication: VPNs use authentication mechanisms, such as usernames, passwords, or certificates, to ensure only authorised users can access the VPN service.

This process ensures that sensitive information, like login credentials or personal data, remains secure, even on unsecured networks like public Wi-Fi.

In the context of the UK’s Online Safety Act, VPNs have surged in popularity as users seek to bypass age verification requirements for adult content. By connecting to servers outside the UK, users can access websites without triggering Ofcom-mandated checks.

However, this raises concerns about undermining child protection measures, as technologically proficient individuals, including minors, can use VPNs to access restricted content.

Impact On Mobile Phone Users

Mobile phone users in the UK are directly affected by the Act’s requirements, particularly when accessing adult content or platforms with age-restricted features. Many will encounter new friction, such as submitting selfies, ID documents, or mobile operator verification to access sites like X, Reddit, or Bluesky. Social media and dating apps, including Grindr and Discord, have introduced age checks to restrict features like direct messaging or NSFW content. Mobile network operators may also apply default content restrictions, requiring users to verify their age to lift these.

For children, the Act aims to create safer online environments, but Ofcom acknowledges that knowledgeable teenagers withe may use VPNs to bypass restrictions, similar to how underage individuals might access alcohol.

Approximately one in five children can disable parental controls, highlighting the challenge of enforcing the Act. Parents are encouraged to engage in conversations about online safety and use available parental control tools on Android, iOS, or broadband networks to limit access to inappropriate content.

Challenges & Criticism

While the Act is intended as a step towards safer online spaces, critics argue it falls short. The Molly Rose Foundation, established in memory of a teenager who took her own life after viewing harmful content, has called for stronger measures, such as proactively removing depressive content. Some MPs advocate for banning under-16s from social media entirely. Privacy advocates warn that the Act’s broad scope could lead to increased surveillance and censorship, potentially chilling free speech.

The surge in VPN usage demonstrates the tension between child protection and individual privacy. As Ofcom begins enforcing the Act, its iterative approach will likely face scrutiny over effectiveness and unintended consequences. For now, the dramatic rise in VPN demand signals that many Brits are prioritising anonymity over compliance.

Image: jmiks

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