Increased Demand for VPNs in the UK Outstrips France Due to Regulations on Adult Content
In the digital landscape of the United Kingdom, a significant shift has taken place in recent days. The implementation of the Online Safety Act on July 25, 2025, has led to a surge in demand for Virtual Private Network (VPN) services, outpacing the demand seen in France when similar age verification laws were enacted.
According to vpnMentor, the surge in VPN usage in the UK has been unprecedented. Proton VPN, one of the top providers, observed a staggering 1400% hourly increase in sign-ups on the day the act came into effect. This surge was so substantial that Google searches for "Proton" increased 100-fold on the same day.
The UK's Online Safety Act applies age verification and content restrictions much more broadly and strictly than the French law. It covers not only adult content but also social media, gaming, and content related to self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders. This broad scope, combined with stricter enforcement powers, including heavy fines and criminal penalties for non-compliant sites, has motivated users to use VPNs to maintain privacy or bypass restrictions.
The sustained nature of the UK VPN demand is another factor that sets it apart from France. Unlike the short-lived peak in France, the surge in VPN signups in the UK has been sustained and even growing since the law came into effect.
Privacy concerns also play a significant role. The UK age verification requires real ID checks rather than simple age confirmation, raising concerns about the sharing of personal information online. This has led many users to turn to VPN services to protect their privacy.
Interestingly, five VPN providers are among the top 10 most downloaded apps through Apple's App Store, underscoring the growing interest in these services. Yoti, a third-party age-verification software, is now one of the most downloaded apps in the UK due to its use by many websites for age verification.
However, concerns about the security of personal information have also arisen. There have been reports of face scans, pictures of IDs, and credit card details being shared to verify age under the Online Safety Act.
In the UK, various methods are being used to bypass age verification systems. People are using the photo mode of the video game Death Stranding, for instance, to fool systems like Discord's k-ID system.
Some, including Elon Musk, have criticized the Online Safety Act as a "suppression of free speech." Despite these criticisms, the act remains in effect, and its impact on VPN usage continues to be monitored closely.
[1] vpnMentor, "VPN usage in the UK surges following Online Safety Act enforcement," [URL] [2] TechCrunch, "ProtonVPN sees huge surge in demand following UK Online Safety Act," [URL] [3] The Guardian, "UK Online Safety Act: fines for non-compliant sites could reach billions," [URL] [4] Wired, "Why the UK's Online Safety Act is causing a surge in VPN use," [URL]
- The surge in VPN usage in the UK following the implementation of the Online Safety Act has been remarkable, with Proton VPN reporting a 1400% increase in hourly sign-ups on the day the act came into effect.
- The broad scope of the UK's Online Safety Act, which includes stricter age verification and content restrictions for gaming, social media, and self-harm content, has motivated many users to turn to VPN services to maintain privacy or bypass restrictions.
- Five VPN providers are currently among the top 10 most downloaded apps on Apple's App Store, signifying the growing interest in these services in the UK.
- Concerns have emerged about the security of personal information shared during age verification under the Online Safety Act, with reports of face scans, pictures of IDs, and credit card details being shared to verify age.