UK Online Safety
UK Online Safety Act age checks: privacy and VPN risks explained
The UK's Online Safety Act age-check duties are now being enforced. We explain what Ofcom requires, why VPNs entered the debate and what privacy risks remain.
Why this UK age-check story matters for VPN deals
- Ofcom now enforces highly effective age assurance for pornography and child-safety duties
- VPNs are not banned, but VPN-based circumvention is explicitly part of Ofcom's risk model
- Age checks raise privacy questions around ID, facial estimation, retention and vendor trust