British Adult Content Site Visits Falls Following Identity Checks, But VPN Usage Spikes, Reports Regulator
Traffic to pornography platforms in the UK has decreased markedly after the introduction of mandatory age verification earlier this year, as reported by the nation's communications watchdog. At the same time, the usage of specialist software designed to dodge these restrictions has risen.
Sharp Fall in Visitor Numbers Following Law Enforcement
The enforcement of age vetting on 25 July resulted in an prompt reduction in traffic to major pornography sites, such as the top provider in the UK. Figures reveals that visitor numbers to this platform in August were 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million from the equivalent month in 2024.
Overall, traffic to the 10 top pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than before the end-of-July deadline. Later data indicates this downward trend in viewing persisted beyond August.
Surge in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Checks
In response to the new rules, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can bypass geographic restrictions by routing internet traffic via another country—increased dramatically following 25 July.
User numbers reached a high at over 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 people prior to the checks began. However, the watchdog stated that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with current figures at around 900,000. It added that the level of daily VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for adult services.
Teenagers Taking Action to Damaging Material
In other findings, the regulator's annual study found that about 60% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 had acted after encountering distressing content online. Steps taken included reporting the material to the platform to muting the user who posted it.
This survey was carried out before new regulations took effect that require platforms to stop children from accessing harmful content, including material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way teenagers encountered such content was by looking through a social media timeline, suggesting that algorithms were showing inappropriate material.
Government Launch Review of Adult Content Laws
In a related development, the government announced it would review the criminal law relating to pornography to assess whether it is effective in the modern digital age.
“The review will look into the effectiveness of the existing law in regarding making illegal, for example, damaging portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which promote the abuse of children,” stated a government official.
Advocates Call For Stricter Digital Regulations
Campaigners for better control of online pornography have urged the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote child sexual abuse by casting youthful adults dressed as children.
Suggested amendments to legislation aim to:
- Prohibit pornography where performers are impersonating children, sometimes filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms.
- Broaden the crime of creating an indecent image of a child to include material where an older performer plays the role of a child.
- Introduce stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which studies indicates is heavily recommended by site algorithms.
- Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an illegal act to possess software designed to create non-consensual nude images.
- Establish a new, independent regulatory body to conduct spot checks on pornography sites and respond to complaints of unlawful content.
The advocates argue that these steps would ensure the protections that have existed for decades in the physical world finally are extended to the online sphere.
