The UK's Online Safety Act could have an unintended consequence: driving more adults to use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to access pornography, experts have warned. The new legislation, designed to protect children from harmful content, requires pornographic websites to implement strict age verification measures.
However, privacy advocates and tech analysts suggest that many users may simply turn to VPNs to bypass these checks, potentially undermining the law's effectiveness. "When faced with intrusive age checks, people will naturally seek alternatives," said one cybersecurity expert.
Why VPN Usage Could Spike
The concern stems from the way VPNs work:
- They mask a user's real IP address, making it appear as if they're browsing from another country
- They encrypt internet traffic, preventing ISPs from monitoring activity
- They allow access to geo-restricted content
This could create a situation where the law pushes porn consumption underground rather than regulating it effectively.
Children's Commissioner Raises Concerns
The Children's Commissioner for England has expressed worries that the legislation might not achieve its intended goal of protecting minors while creating new privacy issues for adults. "We need solutions that actually work to shield children without compromising legitimate adult access," a spokesperson commented.
As the Online Safety Act comes into force, the debate continues about whether the measures will protect children or simply drive porn consumption to less regulated corners of the internet.
