UK government looking into VPN usage
29th September 2025
Since the UK’s new age-verification rules went live on July 25, Brits have been rushing to download VPNs like there’s no tomorrow. The Online Safety Act now requires platforms that host adult contentfrom porn sites to dating apps and even some gaming platformsto implement strict identity checks. No more “I’m over 18” checkboxes; users are expected to prove it with ID, credit card verification, or even age-scanning selfies. Unsurprisingly, that’s rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. The backlash has been swift and visible. VPN sign-ups have skyrocketedProton VPN alone reported a 1,400% surge in downloads within hours of the rules taking effect, while AdGuard VPN saw sign-ups more than double. It’s clear that Brits aren’t thrilled about handing over their personal details just to browse the internet like they always have. A petition to repeal the Online Safety Act has already amassed nearly half a million signatures, with Reform UK’s Nigel Farage describing the whole thing as “borderline dystopian.” So where does the government stand? UK science secretary Peter Kyle insists there are “no plans to ban VPNs,” though he admits ministers are watching their use “very closely.” Translation: for now, you can legally use a VPN to bypass the new checksbut the government clearly doesn’t love that people are sidestepping its shiny new safeguards. If US proposals are anything to go by (Michigan is currently debating forcing ISPs to block VPNs), this is a conversation that could come back. For privacy-conscious Brits, though, VPNs are more than a loopholethey’re an essential layer of digital security. They encrypt your traffic, mask your IP address, and make it much harder for third parties (yes, including government agencies) to track what you’re doing online. That doesn’t mean all VPNs are equalfree ones have been caught selling user databut the big names like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Proton VPN have strong track records of protecting users. For now, VPN use remains completely legal in the UK, and with public anger rising over intrusive age-checking, it’s hard to imagine that changing anytime soon. In the meantime, the surge in sign-ups shows that Brits are taking control of their digital privacyand proving that when government rules go too far, technology can still offer a way to push back.
