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UK age verification for adult sites faces easy bypass

Users can easily evade age checks using VPNs, undermining the new regulations.

July 25, 2025 at 09:58 PM
blur UK's New Age Verification Requirement Thwarted in the Simplest Way Imaginable

The UK’s new age verification for adult sites highlights a simple loophole.

UK's new age verification requirement faces easy workaround

The United Kingdom has implemented a new age verification requirement for sites that host or allow adult content. This mandate forces platforms like Pornhub and Reddit to verify users' ages through various methods, including credit card verification and photo ID submission. However, accessing these sites has become easy for those who use a VPN to mask their IP addresses. Ofcom, the telecom regulator, has acknowledged this loophole and has prohibited platforms from promoting VPN usage to bypass age checks, but searches for VPN services in the UK have surged since the new rules took effect.

Key Takeaways

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UK's age verification requires more stringent ID checks for adult sites
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Users can easily bypass checks using a VPN
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Ofcom acknowledges but restricts discussions on VPN usage
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Search interest in VPNs has greatly increased since the rules began
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The approach raises serious privacy and data security concerns
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Balancing safety for children with adult privacy rights remains a challenge

"The approaches raise serious privacy and data security concerns."

Highlighting the tension between child protection and individual privacy.

"Getting a face scan before opening Pornhub kinda kills the mood."

A relatable expression of frustration about privacy invasions.

"Search interest in VPNs has greatly increased since the rules began."

Reflects the widespread awareness of the loophole among users.

"The intentions behind the regulation are valid, but the execution raises concerns."

Points to the complexities involved in balancing safety with privacy.

This age verification effort illustrates the ongoing struggle between protecting minors online and upholding user privacy. While the intentions behind the regulation are valid, the execution raises concerns about personal data and the lengths to which individuals must go to access content. Many users are put at risk of privacy violations in the name of safety, highlighting the potential for backlash against intrusive verification methods. As VPN use grows, the effectiveness of these regulatory measures will likely be questioned.

Highlights

  • Access to adult content shouldn’t require invasive verification.
  • The new regulations expose privacy risks while missing their goal.
  • Using a VPN for privacy may become the norm among users.
  • Consumers shouldn’t have to compromise their data to browse.

Concerns over privacy violations in age verification

The new age verification methods may require sensitive user data, risking privacy breaches and backlash from users worried about their personal information.

The public reaction to these measures may push regulators to rethink their strategies.

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