Proton VPN Tops UK App Charts Amid New Porn Age Checks
▼ Summary
– Proton VPN became the UK’s most downloaded free app after the Online Safety Act required age verification for adult content, with a 1,400% surge in UK sign-ups.
– The Online Safety Act, effective July 25, mandates strict age checks for sites like Pornhub and TikTok, but VPNs allow users to bypass these by masking their location.
– UK regulators and child safety advocates warn that VPNs undermine the law’s protections, making it easy for minors to access adult content.
– Six of the top ten free apps in the UK are now VPN services, reflecting widespread privacy concerns over the law’s impact on user data.
– Critics, including tech firms and politicians, argue the Online Safety Act threatens privacy and free speech, with a petition to repeal it gaining over 350,000 signatures.
Proton VPN has surged to the top of the UK App Store charts as users seek ways to bypass newly enforced age verification rules for adult content websites. The Swiss-based virtual private network saw a dramatic 1,400% increase in UK registrations shortly after the Online Safety Act took effect, overtaking popular apps like ChatGPT in download rankings.
The legislation, which went live on July 25, mandates platforms such as Pornhub, Reddit, and TikTok to implement strict age checks, including ID verification or third-party authentication. While designed to shield minors from inappropriate material, the law has inadvertently driven a massive uptick in VPN adoption. These services allow users to mask their location, making it appear as though they’re browsing from outside the UK, where the restrictions don’t apply.
Proton VPN noted that the spike in demand has been unusually sustained compared to past surges, such as the temporary block on adult sites in France last month. The company emphasized that such spikes typically accompany major civil unrest, suggesting widespread public concern over privacy implications.
Ofcom, the UK’s communications watchdog, has cautioned against using VPNs to evade the rules, while child safety advocates warn that minors could exploit these tools to bypass protections. Katie Freeman-Tayler of Internet Matters highlighted the risk, stating that VPNs undermine safeguards meant to prevent underage access to explicit content.
The trend isn’t limited to Proton, six of the top ten free apps in the UK are now VPN services, including NordVPN and Free VPN. The surge has reignited debates over digital privacy, with critics arguing that the Online Safety Act could compromise encryption and personal data security.
Political opposition has also emerged, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage vowing to repeal what he calls an “authoritarian” law. A petition demanding its reversal has gathered over 350,000 signatures, prompting parliamentary scrutiny.
Despite speculation that the UK might ban VPNs to enforce compliance, cybersecurity experts dismiss the idea as impractical. Jake Moore of ESET pointed out that such a move would disrupt legitimate uses, from business security to accessing global content. The government faces a delicate balancing act between safeguarding minors and preserving online freedoms.
(Source: The Next Web)
