VPN Surge Amid Age Verification Laws Puts Open Internet at Risk
▼ Summary
– The UK’s Online Safety Act, requiring age verification on adult content sites, led to a spike in VPN and circumvention tool usage over the weekend.
– Experts note this trend mirrors patterns in other countries with similar laws, highlighting an ongoing struggle between users seeking anonymity and governments enforcing restrictions.
– The law mandates “highly effective” age checks, such as ID uploads, but users have found creative workarounds, like using video game characters for verification.
– Over 6,600 porn sites and major platforms like Reddit and X have implemented age checks, but digital rights advocates warn this normalization could lead to stricter enforcement.
– VPN app downloads surged in the UK, with iOS devices seeing a 100% day-over-day increase compared to 5% for Android, according to Sensor Tower data.
The recent implementation of the UK’s Online Safety Act has triggered a dramatic rise in VPN usage as users seek ways to bypass new age verification requirements for adult content. Since the law took effect last Friday, demand for virtual private networks and other privacy tools has skyrocketed, reflecting a growing tension between digital privacy and government regulation.
The legislation mandates that platforms hosting explicit material implement strict age checks, including ID uploads and facial recognition. While major sites like Reddit and X have begun complying, many users are turning to VPNs to mask their location and avoid these restrictions. Some have even discovered unconventional workarounds, such as submitting in-game character photos from titles like Death Stranding to access restricted forums.
Authorities report over 6,600 adult websites have adopted age verification measures, with Microsoft extending voluntary checks to UK Xbox users. However, digital rights advocates warn that these mechanisms could pave the way for broader surveillance. Daniel Kahn Gillmor of the ACLU argues that relying on technological fixes ignores deeper societal solutions, such as fostering better support networks for young internet users.
Market data reveals the immediate impact of the law. Sensor Tower’s Seema Shah notes that five VPN apps surged into the UK App Store’s top 10, with iOS downloads doubling daily compared to a modest 5% increase on Android. This disparity suggests iPhone users are leading the push for anonymity tools.
As more countries consider similar regulations, the debate over online privacy versus protection continues. While proponents see age checks as progress, critics fear they could normalize invasive tracking, pushing users toward ever-more creative methods to preserve their digital freedom.
(Source: Wired)
