The introduction of the UK’s Online Safety Act has led to an unprecedented surge in the use of virtual private networks (VPNs), as Brits seek to circumvent new age verification requirements for accessing adult and potentially harmful online content.

Proton VPN, a Swiss-based provider, reported a more than 1,400 per cent increase in UK signups within hours of the Act coming into force on 25 July 2025. The company stated, “We would normally associate these large spikes in sign-ups with major civil unrest. This clearly shows that adults are concerned about the impact universal age verification laws will have on their privacy.” Other providers, such as Nord, also saw a 1,000 per cent increase in UK purchases of VPN subscriptions.

The Online Safety Act, which received Royal Assent in October 2023, introduces mandatory age verification for accessing pornography and other content deemed harmful to children. Social media platforms including X, Reddit and TikTok have implemented age checks, with users now required to upload identification or undergo facial recognition to access restricted material. Ofcom, the UK’s media regulator, has begun enforcement, with companies facing fines of up to £18 million or 10 per cent of global turnover for non-compliance.

Oliver Griffiths, Ofcom’s group director for online safety, acknowledged that the rules are not “foolproof” for a “determined teenager”, saying, “There are opportunities for people to use VPNs, but this is part of a broader system approach.”

Google Trends data show that searches for VPNs in the UK increased by up to tenfold at peak times over the weekend following the law’s implementation. VPN apps now dominate the top spots in the UK App Store.

Public opposition has also grown, with a petition to repeal the Act gathering over 280,000 signatures. Critics argue that the measures are easy to bypass and raise significant privacy concerns, as users are reluctant to share sensitive identification data with online platforms.

The UK is now seen as a test case for other democracies considering similar online safety legislation.

---