US Edition
VPN use surges in UK as new online safety rules kick in
- On July 25, 2025, UK platforms began requiring ID-based age verification under the Online Safety Act, implementing checks enacted by the October 26, 2023 law.
- Ofcom mandated age checks, stating `Tech firms must introduce age checks to prevent children from accessing porn, self-harm, suicide, and eating disorder content`, and required platforms to use facial estimation or credit card verification.
- 1,400% increase in VPN sign-ups followed the enforcement, as half of the top ten free UK apps are VPNs.
- Ofcom could impose fines on non-compliant platforms and consider VPN providers as facilitating illicit access, while gaps in enforcement may spur calls for VPN-specific legislation.
- Broader discussions in the EU reflect how the UK's approach may influence global norms, and users prioritizing privacy over compliance could prompt a regulatory rethink.
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44 Articles
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources44
Leaning Left5Leaning Right4Center24Last UpdatedBias Distribution73% Center
Bias Distribution
- 73% of the sources are Center
73% Center
15%
C 73%
12%
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