UK Age-Verification Law Sparks VPN Boom Amid Privacy Backlash

The UK’s Online Safety Act took effect on Friday, and its consequences were swift and visible. VPN usage across the country surged sharply as mandatory age-verification rules began altering how people access online content. Data from Top10VPN shows UK VPN traffic spiking 1,327% on July 25 compared with the previous four-week average, climbing to nearly 2,000% in the days that followed.

The legislation compels websites to confirm that users are over 18, extending far beyond adult sites to include social media platforms, gaming services, and even search engines. The definition of “harmful content” also goes beyond pornography, covering material linked to self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders. Platforms that fail to comply face heavy fines or potential bans in the UK.

Crucially, simple self-declaration is no longer acceptable. Regulator Ofcom has outlined stricter verification options, ranging from photo ID checks with facial recognition and open banking data to credit card validation, mobile-operator approval, digital ID wallets, and even age estimation from selfies. Although these methods are presented as privacy-compliant, many adult users perceive them as intrusive.

VPNs, which reroute internet traffic through servers in other countries, allow users to obscure their location and bypass regional controls. As age-gating expands, they are increasingly used both to protect privacy and to avoid regulation.

UK Science Secretary Peter Kyle has downplayed the surge, arguing that most harmful content is already addressed. Still, with VPN adoption accelerating, the tension between online safety, privacy, and enforceability is set to intensify as the UK moves into 2026.