🔗 Share this article UK Pornography Traffic Falls Following Identity Checks, Yet Virtual Private Network Use Surges, Reports Watchdog Access to adult content sites in the United Kingdom has seen a notable drop since the roll-out of mandatory age verification earlier this year, according to the country's communications authority. At the same time, the use of specialist software designed to bypass these barriers has risen. Sharp Drop in Visitor Figures After Rule Enforcement The introduction of age verification on 25 July led to an immediate fall in visits to popular pornography sites, including the leading site in the UK. Figures indicates that visitor numbers to this site in August stood at 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a “lower level” than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Later analysis shows this slump in viewing continued past August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks Reacting to the new rules, adoption of VPN software—which can bypass geographic restrictions by masking connections via another nation—increased dramatically after 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, up from approximately 650,000 people before the verification were introduced. However, the regulator noted that VPN usage has since decreased, with latest numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It added that the level of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for adult sites. Teenagers Responding to Harmful Material In other findings, the regulator's annual study revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing damaging content online. Steps taken ranged from reporting the content to the platform to muting the user who shared it. This research was carried out prior to new regulations took effect that compel platforms to stop children from accessing harmful content, including material related to suicide and adult material. The most common way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a social media feed, indicating that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Ministers Launch Review of Pornography Laws Separately, the ministers announced it would examine the legislation governing pornography to consider whether it is adequate in the ever-developing digital age. “The review will look into the effectiveness of the existing law in regarding criminalising, for example, damaging depictions of familial abuse and any types of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister. Advocates Call For Stricter Online Regulations Advocates for tighter control of adult content have urged the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring incest scenes or that encourages abuse by using youthful adults dressed as children. Proposed changes to government bills seek to: Ban pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Extend the offence of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an adult acts the part of a child. Introduce tighter controls on incest-themed pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by site algorithms. Introduce further controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to own software designed to create non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to conduct spot checks on adult platforms and respond to reports of unlawful content. The campaigners argue that these measures would ensure the protections that have existed for years offline finally apply to the digital age.
Access to adult content sites in the United Kingdom has seen a notable drop since the roll-out of mandatory age verification earlier this year, according to the country's communications authority. At the same time, the use of specialist software designed to bypass these barriers has risen. Sharp Drop in Visitor Figures After Rule Enforcement The introduction of age verification on 25 July led to an immediate fall in visits to popular pornography sites, including the leading site in the UK. Figures indicates that visitor numbers to this site in August stood at 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024. In total, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a “lower level” than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Later analysis shows this slump in viewing continued past August. Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Bypass Checks Reacting to the new rules, adoption of VPN software—which can bypass geographic restrictions by masking connections via another nation—increased dramatically after 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, up from approximately 650,000 people before the verification were introduced. However, the regulator noted that VPN usage has since decreased, with latest numbers standing at approximately 900,000. It added that the level of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than user numbers for adult sites. Teenagers Responding to Harmful Material In other findings, the regulator's annual study revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing damaging content online. Steps taken ranged from reporting the content to the platform to muting the user who shared it. This research was carried out prior to new regulations took effect that compel platforms to stop children from accessing harmful content, including material related to suicide and adult material. The most common way young people came across such content was by scrolling through a social media feed, indicating that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Ministers Launch Review of Pornography Laws Separately, the ministers announced it would examine the legislation governing pornography to consider whether it is adequate in the ever-developing digital age. “The review will look into the effectiveness of the existing law in regarding criminalising, for example, damaging depictions of familial abuse and any types of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister. Advocates Call For Stricter Online Regulations Advocates for tighter control of adult content have urged the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring incest scenes or that encourages abuse by using youthful adults dressed as children. Proposed changes to government bills seek to: Ban pornography where adults are impersonating children, sometimes recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms. Extend the offence of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an adult acts the part of a child. Introduce tighter controls on incest-themed pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by site algorithms. Introduce further controls on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to own software designed to create non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to conduct spot checks on adult platforms and respond to reports of unlawful content. The campaigners argue that these measures would ensure the protections that have existed for years offline finally apply to the digital age.