Proton VPN confirmed an hourly increase in sign-ups of over 1,400% starting from July 25, 2025, as Brits get ready to workaround new age checks.
VPN demand soared in the UK starting from Friday, July 25, 2025
Proton VPN recorded a +1400% hourly increase in signups over the baseline, starting from midnight
All platforms displaying adult content and potentially harmful materials must now enforce robust age checks for all users
VPN demand is soaring in the UK as Britons get ready to work around new age verification checks.
One of the best VPN services on the market, Proton VPN, confirmed to TechRadar an hourly increase in sign-ups of over 1,400% starting from Friday, July 25, 2025.
This coincides with new age verification requirements under the Online Safety Act, which force all platforms displaying adult content and potentially harmful materials to ensure users are over 18 via robust identity checks.
A Proton VPN spokesperson told TechRadar that a rise in sign-ups began immediately at midnight on Friday, with a second spike starting from 9 am (see graph below).
