UK Pornography Traffic Declines After Identity Verifications, But Virtual Private Network Use Spikes, States Watchdog
Access to pornography sites in the United Kingdom has fallen significantly since the enforcement of age-checking measures earlier this year, according to the nation's communications authority. Concurrently, the adoption of specialist software designed to dodge these blocks has surged.
Sharp Drop in Visitor Figures Following Law Enforcement
The introduction of age verification on 25 July led to an swift reduction in visits to leading pornography sites, such as the top site in the UK. Figures shows that visitor numbers to this platform in August stood at 9.8 million, a decrease of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024.
In total, visitor numbers to the ten top pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a significantly reduced level than before the late July deadline. Subsequent data shows this downward trend in viewing continued past August.
Surge in Virtual Private Network Adoption to Bypass Restrictions
In response to the new rules, adoption of VPN software—which can bypass geographic restrictions by masking connections via another nation—surged following 25 July.
Usage reached a high at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from approximately 650,000 users prior to the checks began. Subsequently, the regulator noted that VPN usage has afterwards fallen back, with latest figures at around 900,000. It added that the volume of regular VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for pornography sites.
Teenagers Responding to Harmful Online Content
Elsewhere, the regulator's report revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after seeing harmful content online. Actions ranged from reporting the content to the platform to blocking the user who shared it.
This survey was conducted prior to new regulations took effect that require platforms to stop children from accessing harmful content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The most common way teenagers came across such content was by scrolling through a platform timeline, indicating that recommendation systems were showing harmful material.
Government Announce Examination of Adult Content Laws
Separately, the government announced it would review the legislation governing pornography to consider whether it is adequate in the ever-developing digital age.
“The examination will look into the efficacy of the existing law in regarding making illegal, among other things, damaging depictions of incest and any types of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” said a justice minister.
Advocates Push For Tighter Digital Controls
Advocates for better control of adult content have urged the authorities to outlaw so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages child sexual abuse by casting youthful adults portraying children.
Suggested amendments to legislation seek to:
- Prohibit pornography where performers are mimicking children, often filmed in settings like children’s bedrooms.
- Extend the offence of creating an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult plays the role of a child.
- Apply tighter regulation on incest-themed pornography, which research indicates is often promoted by site systems.
- Introduce additional controls on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to possess tools designed to create non-consensual nude images.
- Create a new, separate regulatory body to perform spot checks on pornography sites and act on complaints of unlawful content.
The campaigners contend that these steps would ensure the protections that have been enforced for decades in the physical world finally are extended to the digital age.
