🔗 Share this article UK Pornography Site Visits Falls Following Identity Checks, But Virtual Private Network Use Spikes, Reports Watchdog Access to pornography websites in the UK has fallen significantly after the enforcement of mandatory age verification this summer, as reported by the country's communications watchdog. At the same time, the adoption of specialist software designed to circumvent these restrictions has surged. Immediate Drop in User Figures After Law Enforcement The introduction of age verification on 25 July resulted in an prompt decline in visits to major pornography sites, such as the leading provider in the UK. Data reveals that visitor numbers to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the ten top pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Later analysis suggests this slump in viewing persisted beyond August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Evade Restrictions In response to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can circumvent geographic blocks by masking internet traffic through another country—more than doubled following 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from approximately 650,000 people prior to the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with latest figures standing at around 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for pornography services. Teenagers Taking Action to Damaging Online Content Elsewhere, the regulator's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content on the internet. Actions included reporting the content to the site to muting the user who posted it. This survey was carried out prior to new rules came into force that compel social media companies to stop children from accessing harmful content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The most common way young people encountered such content was by scrolling through a social media feed, suggesting that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Government Launch Examination of Pornography Legislation Separately, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation governing pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern online world. “The review will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in regarding making illegal, for example, damaging portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” said a government official. Advocates Call For Stricter Digital Regulations Campaigners for better regulation of adult content have urged the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote abuse by using young-looking adults portraying children. Suggested amendments to government bills aim to: Ban pornography where performers are impersonating children, sometimes recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an older performer plays the role of a child. Introduce tighter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is heavily recommended by platform algorithms. Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to own tools designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent oversight agency to perform spot checks on pornography sites and act on reports of unlawful content. The advocates argue that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally apply to the online sphere.
Access to pornography websites in the UK has fallen significantly after the enforcement of mandatory age verification this summer, as reported by the country's communications watchdog. At the same time, the adoption of specialist software designed to circumvent these restrictions has surged. Immediate Drop in User Figures After Law Enforcement The introduction of age verification on 25 July resulted in an prompt decline in visits to major pornography sites, such as the leading provider in the UK. Data reveals that visitor numbers to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the ten top pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Later analysis suggests this slump in viewing persisted beyond August. Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Evade Restrictions In response to the new rules, use of VPN software—which can circumvent geographic blocks by masking internet traffic through another country—more than doubled following 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, up from approximately 650,000 people prior to the checks were introduced. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has afterwards steadily declined, with latest figures standing at around 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for pornography services. Teenagers Taking Action to Damaging Online Content Elsewhere, the regulator's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing distressing content on the internet. Actions included reporting the content to the site to muting the user who posted it. This survey was carried out prior to new rules came into force that compel social media companies to stop children from accessing harmful content, including material related to self-harm and pornography. The most common way young people encountered such content was by scrolling through a social media feed, suggesting that algorithms were serving inappropriate material. Government Launch Examination of Pornography Legislation Separately, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation governing pornography to assess whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern online world. “The review will investigate the efficacy of the existing law in regarding making illegal, for example, damaging portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which encourage child sexual abuse,” said a government official. Advocates Call For Stricter Digital Regulations Campaigners for better regulation of adult content have urged the government to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This encompasses content featuring simulated familial abuse or that appears to promote abuse by using young-looking adults portraying children. Suggested amendments to government bills aim to: Ban pornography where performers are impersonating children, sometimes recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to cover material where an older performer plays the role of a child. Introduce tighter controls on incest-themed pornography, which studies suggests is heavily recommended by platform algorithms. Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to own tools designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent oversight agency to perform spot checks on pornography sites and act on reports of unlawful content. The advocates argue that these measures would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally apply to the online sphere.