British Pornography Traffic Declines After Identity Checks, But Virtual Private Network Usage Surges, States Watchdog

Access to adult content websites in the United Kingdom has seen a notable drop after the introduction of mandatory age verification earlier this year, according to the nation's communications watchdog. At the same time, the adoption of specialist software designed to dodge these barriers has risen.

Immediate Fall in User Numbers After Law Enforcement

The introduction of age verification on 25 July resulted in an immediate fall in visits to popular online adult platforms, including the leading provider in the UK. Figures reveals that visitor numbers to this platform in August reached 9.8 million, a decline of 1.5 million compared to the same period in 2024.

In total, traffic to the 10 top pornography sites in the UK have now settled at a significantly reduced level than prior to the end-of-July deadline. Later analysis shows this decline in site visits persisted beyond August.

Surge in Virtual Private Network Usage to Evade Restrictions

Reacting to the new regulations, use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—which can get around location-based blocks by masking internet traffic via another nation—more than doubled following 25 July.

Usage peaked at more than 1.4 million in mid-August, rising from around 650,000 people before the checks began. Subsequently, the watchdog noted that VPN usage has since steadily declined, with latest numbers at approximately 900,000. It added that the volume of regular VPN use remains “much lower” than traffic for adult sites.

Teenagers Responding to Harmful Online Content

In other findings, the regulator's annual study found that about 60% of young people aged 11 to 17 had acted after seeing damaging content online. Steps taken included flagging the content to the site to muting the user who shared it.

This survey was conducted prior to new rules came into force that compel platforms to stop children from accessing dangerous content, such as material related to suicide and pornography. The most common way teenagers came across such content was by looking through a platform timeline, suggesting that recommendation systems were showing harmful material.

Government Launch Review of Adult Content Legislation

Separately, the ministers stated it would examine the legislation relating to pornography to consider whether it is “fit for purpose” in the modern online world.

“The review will look into the effectiveness of the existing law in relation to making illegal, for example, harmful portrayals of incest and any types of pornography which promote child sexual abuse,” stated a government official.

Campaigners Push For Tighter Digital Controls

Campaigners for tighter regulation of adult content have urged the government to ban so-called “barely legal” material. This includes content featuring incest scenes or that appears to promote child sexual abuse by casting youthful performers portraying children.

Suggested amendments to legislation aim to:

• Prohibit pornography where adults are impersonating children, often recorded in settings like children’s bedrooms.
• Extend the crime of creating an indecent image of a child to cover material where an adult plays the role of a child.
• Apply stricter regulation on familial abuse pornography, which studies indicates is often promoted by site algorithms.
• Add additional restrictions on “nudification” software, potentially making it an offence to own tools designed to create non-consensual nude images.
• Create a new, independent regulatory body to perform spot checks on adult platforms and act on reports of illegal content.

The advocates argue that these steps would ensure the safeguards that have existed for years offline finally apply to the digital age.