🔗 Share this article British Pornography Traffic Declines After Identity Verifications, Yet Virtual Private Network Usage Surges, States Regulator Access to pornography sites in the United Kingdom has seen a notable drop since the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, according to the country's communications regulator. At the same time, the usage of tools designed to bypass these barriers has risen. Sharp Drop in User Numbers After Rule Enforcement The enforcement of age verification on 25 July led to an immediate decline in visits to leading online adult platforms, such as the most visited provider in the UK. Figures shows that visitor numbers to this site in August reached 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Subsequent analysis suggests this slump in viewing persisted past August. Sharp Increase in VPN Adoption to Evade Checks Reacting to the new regulations, adoption of VPN software—which can circumvent location-based blocks by routing connections via another nation—more than doubled after 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from approximately 650,000 users before the verification began. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since fallen back, with latest figures standing at around 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for pornography sites. Teenagers Taking Action to Harmful Material In other findings, the regulator's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering distressing content on the internet. Steps taken ranged from flagging the content to the site to blocking the person who shared it. This survey was carried out before new rules took effect that compel platforms to stop children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way young people came across such content was by looking through a platform feed, indicating that algorithms were showing inappropriate material. Government Launch Review of Pornography Laws Separately, the ministers announced it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is effective in the modern online world. “The review will look into the efficacy of the existing law in regarding making illegal, for example, damaging portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” said a government official. Campaigners Push For Tighter Online Regulations Campaigners for tighter regulation of online pornography have urged the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by using young-looking performers portraying children. Suggested amendments to government bills aim to: Ban pornography where adults are mimicking children, sometimes filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an adult acts the part of a child. Introduce tighter controls on incest-themed pornography, which research indicates is often promoted by platform algorithms. Add further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to possess tools designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform spot checks on pornography sites and act on complaints of unlawful content. The campaigners contend that these measures would ensure the protections that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally apply to the digital age.
Access to pornography sites in the United Kingdom has seen a notable drop since the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, according to the country's communications regulator. At the same time, the usage of tools designed to bypass these barriers has risen. Sharp Drop in User Numbers After Rule Enforcement The enforcement of age verification on 25 July led to an immediate decline in visits to leading online adult platforms, such as the most visited provider in the UK. Figures shows that visitor numbers to this site in August reached 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million from the same period in 2024. Overall, visitor numbers to the ten most-visited pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a markedly decreased volume than prior to the end-of-July implementation date. Subsequent analysis suggests this slump in viewing persisted past August. Sharp Increase in VPN Adoption to Evade Checks Reacting to the new regulations, adoption of VPN software—which can circumvent location-based blocks by routing connections via another nation—more than doubled after 25 July. Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from approximately 650,000 users before the verification began. However, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since fallen back, with latest figures standing at around 900,000. It added that the volume of daily VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for pornography sites. Teenagers Taking Action to Harmful Material In other findings, the regulator's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering distressing content on the internet. Steps taken ranged from flagging the content to the site to blocking the person who shared it. This survey was carried out before new rules took effect that compel platforms to stop children from seeing dangerous content, such as material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way young people came across such content was by looking through a platform feed, indicating that algorithms were showing inappropriate material. Government Launch Review of Pornography Laws Separately, the ministers announced it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is effective in the modern online world. “The review will look into the efficacy of the existing law in regarding making illegal, for example, damaging portrayals of incest and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” said a government official. Campaigners Push For Tighter Online Regulations Campaigners for tighter regulation of online pornography have urged the authorities to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by using young-looking performers portraying children. Suggested amendments to government bills aim to: Ban pornography where adults are mimicking children, sometimes filmed in environments like children’s bedrooms. Broaden the offence of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an adult acts the part of a child. Introduce tighter controls on incest-themed pornography, which research indicates is often promoted by platform algorithms. Add further restrictions on “nudification” technology, potentially making it an offence to possess tools designed to generate non-consensual nude images. Establish a new, independent regulatory body to perform spot checks on pornography sites and act on complaints of unlawful content. The campaigners contend that these measures would ensure the protections that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally apply to the digital age.