What do the new rules requireVPN usage skyrocketsPrivacy concerns and industry pushbackUK has rolled out its strictest age verification laws for online pornography in the world. However, the new age restriction law has led to a sharp rise in VPN usage as users seek to bypass the new restrictions. As reported by The Independent, UK has witnessed 500% increase in searches related to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). As per the new law any website offering adult content to UK users must implement “highly effective” age checks to verify that visitors are over 18. VPNs allow users to mask their location, making it appear as though they’re accessing the internet from countries without such restrictions.

Source: The Times July 27, 2025 14:33 UTC