- Search for 'VPN' in Missouri soars as age verification law comes into effect
- On November 30, age checks became mandatory to access adult content
- All websites containing 33% of "material harmful to minors" need to comply
The number of Missouri residents searching for VPNs has quadrupled since the introduction of state-wide age verification laws on November 30, 2025.
Trends data from the past 30 days indicates a four times increase in traffic for the search term 'VPN' from within the Show-me State.
The search initially doubled on the first day that the law was introduced. It settled at twice that on December 1 as Missourians kept scrambling to protect their personal data, with the search volume remaining at high levels on Tuesday (December 2).
The trend follows similar spikes in VPN usage recorded elsewhere in the US, and abroad, as other states implemented some form of mandatory age verification.
With so much sudden interest in VPNs, the concern now is for the increase in state-wide incidents of phishing and online fraud. Mandatory age checks can push many towards dangerous free VPN solutions, which by far and away outnumber the safe, trusted best free VPNs found on app stores.
There are even some recently published VPN solutions popping up that directly target those searching for a Missouri VPN.
In the lead-up to Sunday, a quick search for "Missouri VPN" turned up many names our team of expert VPN reviewers and lab testers had never even heard of at the top results.
If you are in the hunt for a trusted solution, there are good free VPNs that will help out. However, it's a perfect time to try out a paid product too, with many of the very best VPNs on the market still offering great Cyber Monday VPN deals for a few more days.
This includes TechRadar's top-rated service, NordVPN, which is still at its lowest 2025 price thanks to this exclusive Cyber Monday discount for TechRadar readers only.
Missouri age verification and privacy – all you need to know
Missouri's age verification rules are pretty similar to those enacted in other US regions. Therefore, the same set of issues for users' privacy and security remains.
Under the new rules, all websites or applications containing more than one-third "material harmful to minors" are required to verify that their users are adults before granting them access. This is a provision that experts talking to TechRadar have criticized for its "vague" terms.
There are a few age verification methods that users and providers can opt for. These include the use of digital ID, the scanning of government-issued identification documents, or other transactional data.
The law requires website and app providers to use all reasonable methods to secure user data. Providers are also forbidden from retaining any identifying information unless otherwise required by law enforcement.
Nonetheless, these are guarantees that have so far failed to convince experts that data abuse and leaks will remain at bay.
"By forcing everyone to hand over their most valuable and sensitive identity data, the law builds out a dangerous new surveillance infrastructure instead of actually keeping young people safe," activist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Molly Buckley, told TechRadar.
Clearly, people in Missouri share the same concerns and are not willing to hand over their most sensitive details as easily. Virtual private network (VPN) tools seem to be the best chance they now have to keep control over their data.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone using a VPN service to break the law or conduct illegal activities. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
