Age verification laws send an evolution of VPNs and threaten the open Internet

Friday, the UK online security law entered into force, requiring porn platforms and other adult content sites to implement user age verification mechanisms, the use of virtual private networks (VPN) and other bypass tools doped in the United Kingdom during the weekend.

Experts expected the sharp increase, given that similar trends have been visible in other countries that have implemented the laws on age checks. But as the beginnings of the new wave of age checks, the defenders of the Internet Internet internet warn that the increase in the use of bypass tools in the United Kingdom is the latest example of the way in which a chat and increasing mouse game can develop between people looking to access services anonymously online and governments seeking to apply content restrictions.

The online security law requires websites that hosting the content of porn, self-control, suicide and food disorders implement “very effective” age checks for visitors to the United Kingdom. These checks may include the download of an identification and selfie document for validation and analysis. And with increased demand for services such as VPNs – which allow users to hide basic indicators in their online physical location – people have also played with other creative solutions. In some cases, you can even use video games Death of deathThe photo mode of taking a character selfie Sam bearing a darling and submitting it to age forum content.

For supporters of the law, there is also progress to be indicated. The British communications regulator of OFCOM indicates that more than 6,600 porn websites have so far introduced age checks. And the main social platforms like Reddit, X and Bluesky have also added an age verification for content which is now limited to the United Kingdom or which is doing so. Microsoft has even started to deploy volunteer age checks for Xbox users in the United Kingdom. But even if this movement is satisfactory for the moment, the defenders of digital rights emphasize that the normalization of such mechanisms creates the possibility that they are applied more aggressively in the future.

“I think people just want to show that we can make progress on this subject without thinking about the consequences of progress,” explains Daniel Kahn Gillmor, principal technologist of the American Union Liberties. “We know that there are certain things you can do to help children have a better relationship with digital tools. And this implies having an adequate social support network; This involves listening when children encounter problems and ensuring that they have functional emotional relationships with adults who can respond to them.

Seema Shah, vice-president of research and information to the company of the market company, said that five VPN applications have experienced “explosive growth” and reached the best free apps on the Apple British App Store by Monday.

“According to the estimates of the sensor tower, iOS devices have seen a larger peak in VPN downloads in the United Kingdom, because downloads from selected VPN applications are on average 100% in the last four days on iOS compared to a 5% increase in the day for Android devices,” said Shah.