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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Technology
Nuray Bulbul

Surge in VPN use as new age verification laws come into force

Proton VPN United Kingdom PornHub
VPN downloads have increased since new laws have come in - ((Alamy/PA))

VPN use has surged in the UK as tougher rules to view websites with explicit content take effect.

Websites and apps that contain explicit content are now required by the UK's Online Safety Act to confirm users' ages using techniques like face recognition and banking information in order to keep children from viewing the content. Both dating apps like Tinder and Hinge and adult websites like Pornhub are subject to the law.

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