United Kingdom · European Union · AI Safety · Tom's Hardware
Fears grow that age verification coming to VPNs as a British research firm labels them a 'loophole'
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The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) published a briefing paper this week describing VPN use as "a loophole in the legislation that needs closing," as governments across Europe and the U.S. expand laws requiring platforms to verify users' ages before granting access to adult content.
Key facts
In March, Utah became the first U.S. state to target VPN use in its age-verification law when Governor Spencer Cox signed Senate Bill 73
VPN demand in Florida surged 1,150% within hours of Pornhub blocking access in that state, and Utah saw a 967% increase after a similar withdrawal
The paper noted that VPN downloads spiked after enforcement began in the UK and several U.S. states, with one app developer reporting an 1,800% increase in downloads in the first month following
Security consultant Paul Moore found in April that the European Commission's official age verification app stored facial
Summary
The paper noted that VPN downloads spiked after enforcement began in the UK and several U.S. states, with one app developer reporting an 1,800% increase in downloads in the first month following the UK's Online Safety Act taking effect last year. The EPRS paper acknowledges that current age-assurance methods are "relatively easy for minors to bypass," but offers no technical workaround to prevent VPN circumvention. VPN demand in Florida surged 1,150% within hours of Pornhub blocking access in that state, and Utah saw a 967% increase after a similar withdrawal.