Surge in UK VPN downloads following enforcement of online age verification law

Following the introduction of the UK’s Online Safety Act, which mandates strict age verification on adult content websites, VPN apps have surged to the top of the download charts in the UK. Services like PornHub, Reddit, and X now require users to verify they are over 18 through methods such as facial recognition or ID uploads. VPNs allow users to mask their location and bypass these checks, leading to a dramatic increase in VPN downloads, with some providers reporting spikes of up to 1800% in UK sign-ups. Experts warn, however, that many free VPN services carry privacy and security risks, including data harvesting and vulnerability to cyberattacks. Children’s safety organizations express concern that easy access to VPNs could undermine the protections intended by the new law. Meanwhile, Ofcom and the government have stressed that platforms must not promote VPN use to evade age verification, deeming it illegal to do so. Despite these warnings, the appeal of VPNs as a workaround reflects widespread privacy concerns and resistance to universal age verification measures.