Brits may be turning off from adult content in record numbers following the new age verification laws, but cybersecurity experts claim the legislation lacks adequate safeguards around data handling, potentially leading to the personal information of millions of consumers being exposed or misused.
Web traffic to the UK’s most-visited adult sites has plunged since the new rules – introduced as part of the Online Safety Act – came into force in July, requiring adult websites to carry out strict age verification checks to prevent minors from accessing explicit material.
Pornhub, the country’s most popular adult site, has seen search interest fall by more than half (56%), while XVideos is down 47%. Other major platforms have also been hit hard, with XNXX dropping 43% and XHamster down 34%.
NymVPN analysed Google search trend data, comparing the popularity of these sites before the new age verification laws were introduced with current interest levels. The drop in activity comes amid Ofcom’s ongoing crackdown on adult platforms that have failed to comply with data and verification requests.
The regulator published an update on October 13 announcing that 21 investigations have been opened against the 69 sites and apps being monitored for their potentially harmful content. Several have already been hit with fines, while others are facing new deadlines to implement stricter ID checks.
As part of the Online Safety Act, age verification requirements for adult content came into effect on July 25 this year, with the stated intent of making the internet “safer” by forcing platforms to verify users’ ages and remove harmful or illegal content.
Under the law, adult websites are required to ensure that visitors are over 18, typically by requesting ID, payment details, or other forms of verification.
However, the NymVPN cyber security team and privacy advocates argue that the legislation is flawed.
Many of the third party verification providers are unregulated, raising concerns that sensitive personal information could be compromised. In the case of people accessing adult content, this could leave people’s names, addresses, and ID numbers, sexual orientation vulnerable to state surveillance, malicious actors, and hackers.
While web traffic to adult content sites has fallen sharply, NymVPN’s own data shows a corresponding surge in users seeking privacy tools to bypass restrictions.
The VPN provider has recorded a seven-fold (615%) jump in VPN-related searches since age verification laws came into force, with more than half (51%) of this activity linked specifically to accessing adult content.
NymVPN warns that this trend could lead users to unsafe, free VPN services that may collect or sell user data, undermining the very privacy protections the new law aims to uphold.
Previous Nym research uncovered that some of the most popular free VPNs in the UK, including Turbo VPN, Snap VPN and VPN Proxy Master have hidden ownership structures, indicating strong links to foreign intelligence.
NymVPN chief executive Harry Halpin said: “By forcing millions of users to hand over their personal details to verify their age, the Government has created a huge new data risk. Most of these websites are not required to meet any specific security standards, and that’s a major security concern.
“There is a perfectly good way to do age verification, and this absolutely is not it. Not only does it leave people’s personal information vulnerable to malicious actors, it’s pushing users toward unsafe and unregulated technologies. It’s better to use technology such as zero-knowledge proofs and attribute-based credentials that doesn’t hand over personal data to a bunch of mysterious identity verification companies.
“We’re already seeing people turn to VPNs in record numbers. The problem is, many are using free or untrustworthy VPN services that may expose them even more or leave them open to being spied on by foreign states.
“Centralised VPN technology allows tech companies and foreign intelligence to see what you are searching for the moment that you switch it on. That means your search history is at risk, including your sexual preferences and the time, date and device used to access adult content.
“This law doesn’t just threaten privacy, it undermines the freedom to browse the internet safely and anonymously. Even if this requirement for age verification were to remain in place, we need to see more emphasis being placed on zero-knowledge proof verification so that people can do things like verify their age or vote without revealing other information about themselves. This law falls way short, and everyone’s privacy is being compromised by bad technology.”
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