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Enforced Age Checks on Adult Sites Drive Record VPN Use

UNITED KINGDOM, JUL 29 – Proton VPN reported a 1,400% surge in UK sign-ups after age verification rules began under the Online Safety Act, highlighting privacy concerns amid efforts to protect minors online.

  • Earlier this month, the European Commission launched an age verification app prototype to align with the EU's Digital Services Act, guiding EU-wide online age checks.
  • Requiring identity proof, UK web users as of last week must verify they are over 18 to access adult content after the Act took effect on July 25th.
  • Proton VPN reported a more than 1,400% increase in sign-ups on Friday, and Proton added, `We expect to see further increases over the coming days`.
  • Facing the law, X and Reddit are implementing age verification barriers to restrict minors, with TikTok and Pornhub also rolling out 'age assurance' systems to comply.
  • Privacy advocates caution that the law omits details risking exposure of ID uploads and financial data, Mariana Olaizola Rosenblat warned, 'In some cases, the systems employed are so flawed that they fail to protect minors while also excluding adults who should have lawful access.
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cnet broke the news in New York, United States on Friday, July 25, 2025.
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