UK Pornography Site Visits Falls After Identity Checks, But Virtual Private Network Use Surges, States Watchdog
Access to adult content sites in the UK has fallen significantly after the introduction of age-checking measures earlier this year, according to the nation's communications watchdog. Simultaneously, the use of tools designed to dodge these restrictions has risen.
Immediate Drop in Visitor Figures Following Law Implementation
The enforcement of age verification on 25 July caused an swift reduction in traffic to leading online adult platforms, including the leading provider in the UK. Figures indicates that visitor numbers to this platform in August were 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024.
Overall, traffic to the 10 most-visited adult services in the UK have now settled at a “lower level” than before the end-of-July deadline. Subsequent data suggests this decline in viewing persisted beyond August.
Sharp Increase in VPN Adoption to Bypass Restrictions
In response to the new rules, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around location-based restrictions by routing internet traffic through another nation—surged following 25 July.
Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 people prior to the verification were introduced. Subsequently, the regulator noted that VPN usage has since decreased, with latest figures standing at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for adult sites.
Young People Taking Action to Harmful Online Content
Elsewhere, the watchdog's annual study revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing harmful content online. Steps taken ranged from flagging the material to the site to muting the user who shared it.
This research was conducted prior to new rules took effect that require social media companies to prevent children from accessing harmful content, including material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way teenagers came across such content was by looking through a social media feed, indicating that algorithms were showing harmful material.
Ministers Launch Review of Adult Content Legislation
In a related development, the government stated it would examine the criminal law relating to pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the ever-developing online world.
“The examination will investigate the efficacy of the current law in relation to making illegal, among other things, damaging depictions of incest and any types of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” said a government official.
Advocates Push For Stricter Digital Controls
Advocates for tighter control of online pornography have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by casting youthful adults portraying children.
Suggested changes to legislation aim to:
- Prohibit pornography where performers are mimicking children, often filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms.
- Extend the offence of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an older performer acts the part of a child.
- Apply tighter controls on incest-themed pornography, which research suggests is often promoted by platform algorithms.
- Introduce further restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to own tools designed to generate non-consensual nude images.
- Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform inspections on pornography sites and act on reports of unlawful content.
The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for years in the physical world finally are extended to the online sphere.
