VPNs lead download rankings as age verification legislation takes effect

Virtual private network (VPN) applications have become the most downloaded on Apple's App Store in the UK following the implementation of age verification requirements for sites like PornHub, Reddit, and X starting Friday.

VPNs can mask your online location, enabling you to access the internet as if you were in a different country.

This suggests that individuals are likely utilizing them to circumvent the stipulations of the Online Safety Act, which requires platforms hosting certain adult content to verify the ages of their users.

By Monday morning, it was reported that half of the top ten free applications in the UK’s Apple app download charts were VPN services.

One app developer informed the BBC that they experienced an astonishing 1,800% increase in downloads.

Virtual private networks connect users to websites via a remote server, hiding their actual IP address and location, thus allowing them to bypass restrictions on specific sites or content.

Platforms that host pornography and other content considered harmful to minors must employ "robust" methods to verify whether users are over or under 18.

These methods may include requiring users to take a selfie or video of their face for facial age estimation, or to upload a form of identification, raising concerns among some about the potential retention, use, or linkage of their data to other online activities.

However, experts warn that free VPN applications or services may pose security and privacy threats.

"Many of these free VPNs are fraught with problems," stated Daniel Card, a cyber-security expert with BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT.

"Some function as traffic brokers for data harvesting companies, while others are so poorly designed that they leave users vulnerable to attacks."

He mentioned to the BBC that despite the various privacy risks, such applications often end up in the hands of children attempting to access age-restricted content, or adults seeking to bypass restrictions.

"That’s the uncomfortable reality: individuals will take risks to obtain what they desire online," he remarked.

An overview of the UK's new online safety regulations:

What is the Online Safety Act?

What is the Online Safety Act?

How might age verification for adult content function in the UK?

From Reddit to Pornhub: Which platforms will necessitate age verification in the UK?

The discussion: Will the new regulations for adult websites result in more harm than benefit?

Katie Freeman-Tayler, representing the children's safety organization Internet Matters, expressed on Thursday that the accessibility of inexpensive and free VPN services to minors, along with their possible usage, is "worrisome".

"This facilitates their ability to bypass crucial safeguards established by the Online Safety Act, including age verification measures aimed at protecting them from adult material," she informed the BBC.

However, Ofcom asserts that platforms mandated to implement "highly effective" age verification methods must not host, share, or allow content that promotes the use of VPNs to evade age checks.

The government has also informed the BBC that it would be unlawful for platforms to engage in such practices.

Privacy-aware

Proton VPN, an application provided by the Swiss privacy technology company Proton, reported to the BBC that it experienced an 1800% increase in daily sign-ups in the UK over the weekend following the implementation of age verification regulations on Friday.

A spokesperson for Proton indicated that the UK is now among the countries with the highest usage of its VPN service.

"This clearly indicates that adults are worried about the implications that universal age verification laws will have on their privacy," they remarked.

Rajat Vaghani, vice president of engineering at Free VPN - the sixth most popular free app on the App Store as of Monday - noted that it also experienced "a notable increase" in new users and downloads from the UK over the weekend.

This app, along with other free VPN applications that ranked high on the App Store's charts on Monday, claims to display advertisements to fund and maintain their free services.

Some assert that they do not share user data with third parties and clarify that their services are not intended for children. All claim that their VPN connections are private, secure, and encrypted.

"While more privacy-conscious individuals may prefer reputable services... the average user likely won't," stated Mr. Card.

"They'll opt for the first free app with favorable reviews, often