British Pornography Site Visits Falls After Identity Checks, But Virtual Private Network Usage Surges, States Regulator
Access to adult content sites in the United Kingdom has seen a notable drop since the enforcement of mandatory age verification this summer, according to the nation's communications authority. Simultaneously, the adoption of specialist software designed to dodge these barriers has surged.
Immediate Fall in User Figures After Rule Enforcement
The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July led to an immediate fall in traffic to leading online adult platforms, such as the most visited provider in the UK. Data indicates that user traffic to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024.
In total, traffic to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a “lower level” than prior to the end-of-July deadline. Subsequent data shows this downward trend in viewing continued past August.
Sharp Increase in VPN Usage to Bypass Restrictions
In response to the new rules, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can circumvent location-based restrictions by routing internet traffic through another country—surged following 25 July.
Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, up from approximately 650,000 users before the checks began. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since fallen back, with latest figures at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the volume of regular VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for adult services.
Young People Taking Action to Damaging Online Content
In other findings, the regulator's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content on the internet. Steps taken ranged from reporting the material to the platform to muting the user who shared it.
This survey was conducted before new rules took effect that require social media companies to prevent children from seeing dangerous content, including material related to suicide and pornography. The primary way young people encountered such content was by scrolling through a social media timeline, indicating that recommendation systems were serving inappropriate material.
Government Announce Examination of Pornography Laws
Separately, the ministers announced it would examine the legislation governing pornography to assess whether it is effective in the modern digital age.
“The examination will look into the effectiveness of the current law in regarding criminalising, for example, damaging portrayals of familial abuse and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” said a government official.
Campaigners Push For Tighter Online Regulations
Advocates for tighter control of online pornography have urged the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by casting young-looking adults dressed as children.
Proposed amendments to legislation aim to:
- Prohibit pornography where performers are impersonating children, sometimes filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms.
- Extend the crime of making an indecent image of a child to cover material where an older performer plays the role of a child.
- Apply stricter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by site algorithms.
- Introduce additional controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to possess tools designed to create non-consensual nude images.
- Create a new, separate oversight agency to perform spot checks on pornography sites and respond to complaints of illegal content.
The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for decades in the physical world finally are extended to the online sphere.
