Australians turn to VPNs after adult website blocked under new age laws

As reported by Reuters, Australians are now downloading virtual private networks (VPNs) as the country started rolling out online age restrictions. The new laws need website distributing adult content to verify users are over 18, while the app stores much run age checks before allowing downloads of software labelled 18+. This measure is followed by Australia’s landmark decision to ban teenagers from using social media platforms. Now a separate law compels AI-powered chatbot services to block minors from accessing adult content, extreme violence, eating disorders and self-harm videos. The government has also imposed penalties of up to A$49.5 million ($34.5 million) for violations.

The growing popularity of VPNs

As per the Reuters report, the Apple app charts highlight that three of the top 15 most downloaded free apps were VPNs, with “VPN – Super Unlimited Proxy” ranking ahead of any social media platform in Australia. The VPN apps help in masking the location of a device and enable the users to bypass any restrictions.

Access to adult websites blocked

Aylo, the Canada-based adult platforms which also include Pornhub, RedTube, and YouPorn have blocked the users in Australia from accessing explicit content. As per Reuters, Pornhub now showcase a ‘safe-for-work’ version in the country along with the banners “not currently accepting new account registrations in your region.”

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant defended the measures, saying they bring offline protections into the digital realm. “A child today can’t walk into a bar and order a drink, they can’t stroll into a strip club or browse an adult shop,” she told ABC. “This just really brings those protections into the online space.”

Digital rights groups noted the surge in VPN use was predictable. Tom Sulston, deputy chair of Digital Rights Watch, said VPNs not only help bypass restrictions but also offer broader privacy protections. “My hope is that people discover it’s just generally a good idea to use VPNs when traversing the internet,” he said.