A majority of British adults believe that virtual private networks (VPNs) should be restricted for under-18s, as growing numbers of young people turn to the technology to bypass age checks introduced under the Online Safety Act. Reports Technology News
According to a new YouGov survey, 55% of UK adults support a ban on VPN use among minors, amid rising concerns that measures designed to block harmful online content are being undermined.
VPNs work by routing internet traffic through servers in different countries, allowing users to sidestep local restrictions and access content otherwise blocked under national laws.
Their popularity has surged in the UK since the rollout of mandatory age verification for adult websites, including pornography, as part of the Online Safety Act.
Proton VPN reported to UKTN that sign-ups from UK users jumped nearly 2,000% in the hours immediately after the new restrictions took effect on 25 July.
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, the Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, said the VPN “loophole” must be addressed to ensure the protections of the legislation are effective.
She said: “Of course, we need age verification on VPNs – it’s absolutely a loophole that needs closing and that’s one of my major recommendations.”
