UK households exploit VPN loophole to get around new age blocker rules

UK households are using web loophole to get around the new age verification laws which have come into effect across the country.

As of last week, a new law kicked in which means anyone browsing the web in the UK now has to verify they are aged over 18 in order to access 'adult content'. It means that instead of a simple age gate, browsers are forced to show ID or have their face assessed for age verification, which some have argued is a privacy concern over how that data will be collected and stored by a US company.

But according to reports, thousands of Brits are already bypassing the new law using a legal exploit. Proton VPN, a company which offers its VPN service to users worldwide, reported a massive 1,400% increase in sign-ups from British web users in the first hour the law came into effect.

The spike in sign ups began immediately on Friday night, the company confirmed.

Proton added: "We expect to see further increases over the coming days.

"This clearly shows that adults are concerned about the impact universal age verification laws will have on their privacy."

A VPN is a Virtual Private Network. They can be used to disguise the country of origin of a user, as well as other information by bypassing information through a remote server. Some normal uses of VPNs include signing into a work system to access files and documents securely within a single work network.

According to Ofcom, platforms must not host, share or permit content encouraging the use of VPNs to get around age checks and the government told the BBC it would be illegal for the platforms to do so under the Online Safety Act.

However, using a VPN has never been illegal and remains legal now, as long as what you use it for is also legal.

According to Norton, the famous computer antivirus firm: "In most countries VPNs are completely legal, including in the UK, the US, Canada, and most European and Latin American countries.

"Though many governments recognise the privacy benefits of VPNs-such as keeping your location, activity, and identity hidden-all countries have some legal limits on VPN usage. A good rule of thumb is that if it's illegal without a VPN, like malicious hacking or buying or selling illicit drugs, it's also illegal with a VPN."