Proton VPN reported a 1,400 percent hourly increase in signups over its baseline Friday, the day the UK’s age verification law went into effect. The law requires apps with explicit content to verify users’ ages via methods such as facial recognition and banking information. This surge in downloads highlights growing concerns about privacy and the effectiveness of such regulations. Previously, Proton VPN saw a 1,000 percent surge in new subscribers in June after Pornhub left France due to similar age verification laws there. A Proton VPN spokesperson confirmed the spike in subscriptions immediately after the law took effect, with further surges anticipated over the weekend. The spokesperson noted that this trend underscores the public’s concern over the impact of universal age verification laws on their privacy.
Search interest for the term ‘Proton VPN’ also saw a notable increase in the UK around 2 a.m. BST Friday, according to a Google Trends chart. The Financial Times noted that VPN apps made up half of the top 10 most popular free apps on the UK’s App Store for iOS this weekend. Proton VPN leapfrogged ChatGPT to become the top free app in the UK, with services from Super Unlimited and Nord Security also rising in popularity. Data from Google Trends also showed a substantial increase in search queries for VPNs in the UK this weekend, with up to 10 times more people looking for VPNs at peak times.
Anthony Rose, a UK-based tech entrepreneur and co-creator of BBC iPlayer, commented on the situation, stating that the legislation reflects a lack of technological understanding. Rose noted that installing a VPN takes less than five minutes and that British users are familiar with using them to access iPlayer outside the UK. He emphasized that ‘the beauty of VPNs’ is their ability to bypass such legislation. Online platforms found in breach of the new UK rules face penalties of up to £18 million or 10 percent of global turnover, whichever is greater. However, opposition to the new rules has grown, with a petition demanding the repeal of the Online Safety Act attracting over 270,000 signatures, the majority submitted in the past week.
X, Reddit, and TikTok have also implemented new ‘age assurance’ systems and controls for UK users. Despite these measures, initial research suggests that VPNs make age verification laws in the U.S. and abroad difficult to enforce in practice. The situation reflects a broader debate over digital privacy, regulation, and the role of technology in circumventing legal restrictions. As the debate continues, the implications of these developments for both users and platforms remain significant.