UK Pornography Traffic Falls After Identity Checks, But VPN Use Spikes, Reports Watchdog
Access to adult content platforms in the United Kingdom has decreased markedly after the enforcement of age-checking measures this summer, according to the nation's communications authority. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to circumvent these barriers has increased.
Sharp Drop in Visitor Figures Following Law Enforcement
The introduction of age verification on 25 July led to an swift fall in visits to leading pornography sites, such as the most visited provider in the UK. Data shows that visitor numbers to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the equivalent month in 2024.
In total, traffic to the 10 most-visited adult services in the UK have now settled at a “lower level” than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Later data suggests this downward trend in site visits persisted beyond August.
Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Restrictions
In response to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can circumvent location-based restrictions by masking internet traffic via another nation—more than doubled after 25 July.
User numbers reached a high at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from approximately 650,000 people prior to the verification began. Subsequently, the watchdog stated that VPN usage has afterwards fallen back, 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 services.
Young People Responding to Damaging Online Content
Elsewhere, the watchdog's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering damaging content online. Actions ranged from flagging the material to the site to muting the person who posted it.
This survey was carried out before new rules took effect that require social media companies to stop children from accessing harmful content, such as material related to self-harm and pornography. The most common way teenagers encountered such content was by scrolling through a social media timeline, suggesting that algorithms were serving harmful material.
Ministers Announce Examination of Adult Content Laws
In a related development, the government announced it would review the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is adequate in the modern online world.
“The examination will investigate the efficacy of the current law in relation to criminalising, for example, damaging depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a justice minister.
Campaigners Push For Tighter Digital Regulations
Advocates for better control of online pornography have urged the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by using young-looking adults dressed as children.
Suggested amendments to legislation aim to:
- Prohibit pornography where adults are impersonating children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms.
- Extend the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an older performer plays the role of a child.
- Apply tighter controls on familial abuse pornography, which studies suggests is heavily recommended by site systems.
- Add further controls on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to own tools designed to create private images without permission.
- Create a new, independent regulatory body to conduct inspections on adult platforms and act on reports of illegal content.
The campaigners argue that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally are extended to the digital age.
