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Could VPNs be banned?! UK government to look "very closely" into their usage
amid mass usage since the age verification row

Date:
Tue, 29 Jul 2025 15:55:24 +0000

Description:
VPN usage continues to soar in the UK, but will the government crack down?

FULL STORY

VPN demand in the UK has soared overnight since new age verification checks
were enforced, as Brits look for ways to bypass new requirements. This has
sparked concerns that authorities could end up banning their use. 

The UK's science secretary, Peter Kyle, asserts there are no plans to ban
VPNs. Kyle confirmed, however, that the government would be looking "very
closely" at how the best VPN apps are being used. 

"Some people are finding their way round [the legislation]. Very few children
will be going actively out there searching for harmful content," said Kyle
during an interview with Sky News today, July 29, 2025  The Guardian reported
. A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your internet connections, while
spoofing you real IP address location.

Starting from Friday, July 25, 2025, all platforms displaying adult-only or
harmful content must enforce robust age verification checks under the Online
Safety Act. 

As Ofcom explains on its website, "Just ticking a box to say you're over 18
will no longer be enough." 

This means that all websites reserved for users over 18 must ensure minors
never access their services via ID checks. Crucially, social media, dating
apps, and gaming platforms are also expected to verify their users' age 
before displaying them potentially dangerous materials. 

These new requirements have thus far sparked concerns regarding data privacy,
security, free speech, and access to information. 

A petition to repeal the UK Online Safety Act has already reached over 
340,000 at the time of writing. 

Reform UK's leader, Nigel Farage, is also strongly pushing to scrap what he
described as a "borderline dystopian" legislation  The Guardian reported .

VPNs and age checks  what to know 

VPN services are a popular way to bypass geo-restrictions, like those imposed
by streaming platforms. That's because a VPN spoofs your real IP address and
assigns you a new, temporary one based in the same place as the VPN server 
you join. This makes it possible to trick the sites you visit into thinking
you're in a different country. 

Considering the sudden spike in VPN usage across the country, people in the 
UK are likely familiar with this. 

A popular provider, Proton VPN, recorded an hourly increase of over 1,400%
starting from Friday at midnight. AdGuard VPN also confirmed to TechRadar 
that sign-ups grew by 2.5 times in just a few days. Data from Top10VPN shows
an ongoing surge in VPN demand of over 500% since Friday. 

At the time of writing, using a VPN in the UK is completely legal, and using
one to bypass the new age checks should not be considered a crime. 

The UK's regulator body for online safety, Ofcom, however, is strongly
suggesting against their use. Clearly, without much success so far. 

Will the government find a way to prevent people from bypassing the new 
Online Safety Act's measures via VPNs? 

It's too early to know for certain, but a ban seems to be off the cards  for
now, at least.

======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/could-vpns-be-banned-uk-gov
ernment-to-look-very-closely-into-their-usage-amid-mass-usage-since-the-age-ve
rification-row

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