Britons Flock to VPNs to Dodge New Age Verification Checks Online

Rather than upload their IDs or have their faces scanned, adult users are moving toward VPNs.
Britons Flock to VPNs to Dodge New Age Verification Checks Online
A child using a computer in this undated file photograph. Peter Byrne/PA Media
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Downloads of virtual private network (VPN) apps have surged in the UK as users look for ways to bypass new age verification rules introduced after the latest provisions of the Online Safety Act took effect on July 25.

The rules require online platforms to implement strict age checks to shield children from content deemed harmful, including bullying, pornography, self-harm, and hateful content.
Owen Evans
Owen Evans
Author
Owen Evans is a UK-based journalist covering a wide range of national stories, with a particular interest in civil liberties and free speech.