British Pornography Traffic Falls After Identity Checks, Yet Virtual Private Network Use Surges, States Watchdog
Visitor numbers to pornography websites in the UK has seen a notable drop after the enforcement of age-checking measures this summer, as reported by the country's communications authority. Simultaneously, the use of specialist software designed to dodge these blocks has surged.
Sharp Fall in User Numbers After Law Enforcement
The introduction of age vetting on 25 July led to an immediate fall in traffic to leading online adult platforms, including the most visited provider in the UK. Data reveals that user traffic to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a drop of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024.
Overall, visitor numbers to the 10 top pornography sites in the UK have now stabilized at a significantly reduced level than before the late July implementation date. Subsequent data shows this downward trend in site visits persisted beyond August.
Sharp Increase in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Restrictions
Reacting to the new rules, adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around location-based blocks by routing internet traffic via another country—surged after 25 July.
User numbers peaked at more than 1.4 million in the middle of August, rising from around 650,000 people before the checks began. However, the regulator noted that VPN usage has afterwards decreased, with current numbers at approximately 900,000. It clarified that the level of regular VPN use is “much lower” than user numbers for adult services.
Young People Taking Action to Harmful Online Content
In other findings, the regulator's annual study revealed that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had taken action after encountering harmful content on the internet. Steps taken included flagging the material to the platform to muting the person who shared it.
This research was conducted before new rules took effect that compel social media companies to prevent children from accessing dangerous content, such as material related to self-harm and adult material. The most common way young people came across such content was by looking through a platform feed, suggesting that recommendation systems were showing harmful material.
Government Launch Examination of Pornography Legislation
In a related development, the ministers announced it would examine the criminal law governing pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern digital age.
“The examination will investigate the efficacy of the current law in relation to making illegal, for example, damaging depictions of incest and any forms of pornography which encourage the abuse of children,” said a government official.
Campaigners Call For Stricter Online Controls
Advocates for tighter regulation of online pornography have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring simulated familial abuse or that encourages abuse by casting young-looking performers dressed as children.
Proposed changes to legislation seek to:
- Prohibit pornography where adults are mimicking children, often recorded in environments like children’s bedrooms.
- Extend the crime of making an exploitative portrayal of a child to include material where an older performer acts the part of a child.
- Apply tighter controls on incest-themed pornography, which research indicates is often promoted by platform systems.
- Introduce additional restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an illegal act to possess tools designed to create non-consensual nude images.
- Create a new, independent oversight agency to conduct spot checks on adult platforms and respond to reports of unlawful content.
The advocates contend that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have been enforced for years in the physical world finally are extended to the digital age.
