- UK’s science secretary ensures that there are no plans to ban VPNs
- However, the government looks “very close” on how VPNs are used
- VPN demand rose in the UK from Friday 25 July 2025, as the British are looking for ways to avoid new age controls
The VPN monitoring in the UK has risen overnight since verification of New Age verification was enforced as the British look for ways to circumvent new claims. This has given rise to concern that authorities could end up banning their use.
British science secretary, Peter Kyle, claims that there are no plans to ban VPNs. However, Kyle confirmed that the government would look “very careful” on how the best VPN apps are used.
“Some people find their way around [the legislation]. Very few children are actively going out there and searching for harmful content, “Kyle said during an interview with Sky News today, July 29, 2025 – The Guardian reported.
As of Friday, July 25, 2025, all platforms that show only adult or harmful content must enforce robust age verification control under the Online Security Act.
As ofcom explains on its website, “just ticking a box to say you are over 18 will no longer be enough.”
This means that all sites reserved for users over the age of 18 must ensure that minors never have access to their services via ID control. Of crucial importance, social media, dating apps and game platforms are also expected to verify their user’s age before showing them potentially dangerous materials.
These new requirements have so far given rise to concern for data protection, security, freedom of expression and access to information.
A petition to cancel the British online security law has already reached over 340,000 at the time of writing.
Reform UK’s leader, Nigel Farage, is also pushing strongly to scraping what he described as a “border -dystopian” legislation – reported The Guardian.
VPNs and Age Control – What to Know
VPN services are a popular way of bypassing geo-limits, just as those imposed by streaming platforms. That’s because a VPN SPOOFS your real IP address and assigns you a new, temporary that is based on the same place as the VPN server you sign up for. This allows you to fool the sites you visit in thinking you are in another country.
Given the sudden increase in VPN use across the country, people in the UK are probably familiar with this.
A popular provider, Proton VPN, recorded an hourly increase of over 1,400% from Friday at midnight. Adguard VPN also confirmed to Techradar that sign -ups grew by 2.5 times in just a few days. Data from Top10VPN shows a continuous increase in VPN demand for over 500% since Friday.
At the time of writing, it is not to use a VPN in the UK and to use one to bypass the New Age controls should not be considered a crime.
However, the British regulator body for online security, ofcom, is strongly suggesting against their use. Obviously, without special success so far.
Will the government find a way to prevent people from bypassing the new online security law measures via VPNs?
It’s too early to know for sure, but a ban seems to be from the cards – at least at least.
