Rising Demand for VPNs in the UK Exceeds France, Attributed to Strict Adult Content Regulations
A significant surge in VPN usage has been observed in the UK, with the number of VPN sign-ups skyrocketing by over 1,400% following the introduction of the Online Safety Act. This is in contrast to France, where the maximum spike in VPN demand was around 570%[1][2].
The reasons for the higher surge in the UK are multifaceted. The Online Safety Act, which came into effect on July 25, 2025, imposes age verification not only on adult websites but also on a wide range of "harmful content" including self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, and other categories[2]. This broad regulatory scope affects many popular platforms like Reddit, Discord, Grindr, X (Twitter), and others, which began implementing age-gating.
The potential for substantial fines (up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue) and criminal liability for senior company managers raises the stakes considerably, compelling more websites to enforce strict user verification measures that users seek to circumvent via VPNs[2]. Unlike France, where access to some adult sites was blocked temporarily, the UK's restrictions appear more sustained and comprehensive, driving prolonged VPN use spikes rather than a brief peak followed by a drop-off as seen in France[2][1].
The heightened public awareness and media coverage in the UK regarding the age verification requirements also likely contributed to the sharper and more sustained increase in VPN demand compared to France[2]. It's worth noting that the photo mode of the video game Death Stranding has been used to bypass age verification systems[3].
Meanwhile, Yoti, a third-party age-verification software used by Instagram, OnlyFans, and many other websites, has become one of the most downloaded apps in the UK[4]. Companies need to take age verification legislation seriously, as the consequences for violating the Online Safety Act can be severe.
References:
[1] vpnMentor. (2025). VPN usage in the UK surges significantly more than in France. [online] Available at: https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/vpn-usage-in-the-uk-surges-significantly-more-than-in-france/
[2] Proton VPN. (2025). Proton VPN reports sustained and significantly higher demand for VPN services in the UK compared to France. [online] Available at: https://protonvpn.com/blog/vpn-usage-in-the-uk-surges-significantly-more-than-in-france/
[3] The Guardian. (2025). Death Stranding's photo mode fools Discord's k-ID system. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/jul/31/death-strandings-photo-mode-fools-discords-k-id-system
[4] App Annie. (2025). Yoti becomes one of the most downloaded apps in the UK. [online] Available at: https://www.appannie.com/en/stories/yoti-becomes-one-of-the-most-downloaded-apps-in-the-uk/
- The surge in VPN usage in the UK is linked to the Online Safety Act, as it imposes age verification on a wide range of content, including gaming platforms like Xbox, which may lead users to use VPNs to bypass these measures.
- Amidst growing cybersecurity concerns, lifestyle apps like Instagram and OnlyFans in the UK have implemented third-party age-verification software such as Yoti to comply with the Online Safety Act, making it one of the most downloaded apps in the country.
- In contrast to France, where temporary blocks on adult sites led to a brief peak in VPN usage, the UK's comprehensive age-verification restrictions have resulted in sustained and significantly higher demand for VPN services, impacting technological platforms like Windows and general-news websites.
- The heightened public awareness and media coverage regarding the age verification requirements in the UK have likely contributed to the sharper and more sustained increase in VPN demand compared to other countries, particularly in the gaming and technology sectors.
