- VPN services are gaining traction among people in Australia
- Proton VPN and NordVPN are among the most downloaded apps
- All users must now prove they are 18 years of age to access adult-only content
VPN services are climbing Australia’s app store charts as mandatory age verification checks to access adult-only content come into force today.
According to Sensor Tower data, popular secure free VPN service Proton VPN jumped from #19 to #7 on Google Play on Monday. TechRadar’s top-rated best VPN service, NordVPN, is also seeing a significant increase in downloads across both iOS and Android.
Among the apps gaining traction is VPN – Super Unlimited Proxy. Although this free service claims to have a no-logs policy, users should be cautious as it records usage data to track activity across third-party apps and websites and collects sensitive identifiers, including location data, according to the Apple App Store’s privacy labels.
Australia’s age verification rules – all you need to know
Starting March 9, all websites, AI chatbots and online services hosting adult-only material must verify that users are at least 18 years old.
The new rules allow service providers to choose their own “appropriate old age insurance measures.” These typically involve scanning government-issued IDs, performing credit card checks, or using biometric facial age estimation.
Adult-only content giant Aylo began restricting access for Australian users in protest on Friday. The company told The Guardian that the measure “creates data protection damage and exposure to illegal content on non-compliant platforms”.
Companies that violate these new rules face significant penalties, with fines of up to $49.5 million. These rules follow a landmark ban on social media for users under 16, which was introduced late last year.
Why are Australians turning to VPNs?
A virtual private network (VPN) is a privacy tool that encrypts a user’s Internet connection and masks their real IP address. By spoofing their location, Australians can appear to be browsing from another country.
This increase in VPN use mirrors trends seen in the UK when similar age verification measures were introduced, as well as in several US states where such laws are already active.
It’s impossible to know how many people use VPNs because of privacy concerns, or how many are simply trying to circumvent the new rules.
Politicians in both the UK and US have increasingly signaled a desire to regulate the technology itself. In January 2026, the UK House of Commons proposed that VPN providers introduce “very effective” age insurance for all users.
As the UK government moves into a landmark three-month consultation period that could see VPNs become age-restricted, the debate in Australia is expected to intensify.
We test and review VPN services for legitimate recreational use. For example: 1. Accessing a Service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that Service). 2. Protecting your online security and enhancing your online privacy when you are abroad. We do not support or condone the use of a VPN service to break the law or carry out illegal activities. Consumption of paid-for pirated content is neither endorsed nor endorsed by Future Publishing.
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