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   Could VPNs be banned?! UK government to look "very closely" into their usage   
   amid mass usage since the age verification row   
      
   Date:   
   Tue, 29 Jul 2025 15:55:24 +0000   
      
   Description:   
   VPN usage continues to soar in the UK, but will the government crack down?   
      
   FULL STORY   
      
   VPN demand in the UK has soared overnight since new age verification checks   
   were enforced, as Brits look for ways to bypass new requirements. This has   
   sparked concerns that authorities could end up banning their use.    
      
   The UK's science secretary, Peter Kyle, asserts there are no plans to ban   
   VPNs. Kyle confirmed, however, that the government would be looking "very   
   closely" at how the best VPN apps are being used.    
      
   "Some people are finding their way round [the legislation]. Very few children   
   will be going actively out there searching for harmful content," said Kyle   
   during an interview with Sky News today, July 29, 2025  The Guardian reported   
   . A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your internet connections, while   
   spoofing you real IP address location.   
      
   Starting from Friday, July 25, 2025, all platforms displaying adult-only or   
   harmful content must enforce robust age verification checks under the Online   
   Safety Act.    
      
   As Ofcom explains on its website, "Just ticking a box to say you're over 18   
   will no longer be enough."    
      
   This means that all websites reserved for users over 18 must ensure minors   
   never access their services via ID checks. Crucially, social media, dating   
   apps, and gaming platforms are also expected to verify their users' age    
   before displaying them potentially dangerous materials.    
      
   These new requirements have thus far sparked concerns regarding data privacy,   
   security, free speech, and access to information.    
      
   A petition to repeal the UK Online Safety Act has already reached over    
   340,000 at the time of writing.    
      
   Reform UK's leader, Nigel Farage, is also strongly pushing to scrap what he   
   described as a "borderline dystopian" legislation  The Guardian reported .   
      
   VPNs and age checks  what to know    
      
   VPN services are a popular way to bypass geo-restrictions, like those imposed   
   by streaming platforms. That's because a VPN spoofs your real IP address and   
   assigns you a new, temporary one based in the same place as the VPN server    
   you join. This makes it possible to trick the sites you visit into thinking   
   you're in a different country.    
      
   Considering the sudden spike in VPN usage across the country, people in the    
   UK are likely familiar with this.    
      
   A popular provider, Proton VPN, recorded an hourly increase of over 1,400%   
   starting from Friday at midnight. AdGuard VPN also confirmed to TechRadar    
   that sign-ups grew by 2.5 times in just a few days. Data from Top10VPN shows   
   an ongoing surge in VPN demand of over 500% since Friday.    
      
   At the time of writing, using a VPN in the UK is completely legal, and using   
   one to bypass the new age checks should not be considered a crime.    
      
   The UK's regulator body for online safety, Ofcom, however, is strongly   
   suggesting against their use. Clearly, without much success so far.    
      
   Will the government find a way to prevent people from bypassing the new    
   Online Safety Act's measures via VPNs?    
      
   It's too early to know for certain, but a ban seems to be off the cards  for   
   now, at least.   
      
   ======================================================================   
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/could-vpns-be-banned-uk-gov   
   ernment-to-look-very-closely-into-their-usage-amid-mass-usage-since-the-age-ve   
   rification-row   
      
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