Brits are circumventing UK age verification with VPNs and Death Stranding photos

[Daniel Sims]

Cutting corners: When the United Kingdom began strictly enforcing age verification rules on all adult websites, many predicted a spike in VPN usage – and provider Proton now has the data to prove it. But another unusual and amusing workaround has also emerged.

Proton VPN reported a 1,400% increase in logins from the UK on Friday. The company attributed the surge to the stricter enforcement of the Online Safety Act, which mandates stringent ID checks for pornography websites. However, VPNs aren't the only effective method for accessing restricted sites and social media platforms.

The VPN provider also shared a chart showing that Google searches for "Proton" in the UK increased by nearly 100-fold on Friday. Other services, such as NordVPN, have likely also seen increased interest from British users trying to bypass restrictions via international servers.

Following the July 25 expansion of the Online Safety Act, Pornhub, XHamster, and other adult websites began displaying age verification gates when accessed from UK IP addresses. Reddit started enforcing the requirement earlier this month.

Clicking a button to confirm you're over 18 is no longer enough. The UK communications regulator, Ofcom, now requires age checks through photos, videos, credit cards, phone numbers, or ID cards.

Clicking a button to confirm you're over 18 is no longer enough.

Proton also reported a 1,000% spike in logins from France in June after Pornhub blocked access for French users in response to similar legislation. Texas and several other US states have also begun enforcing age checks.

Pretty sure it's not the footy this time... pic.twitter.com/dQJM87dDaB

– Proton VPN (@ProtonVPN) July 25, 2025

Discord has introduced a similar age gate in the UK for users attempting to change settings or access age-restricted channels, but users have already found a workaround.

The designers of the age verification system anticipated that people might submit photos of older adults to avoid sharing their own information. What they didn't anticipate was the increasing realism of modern video game photo modes.

Uploading a picture of well-known stock photo model András Arató (aka "Hide the Pain Harold") can pass the system's initial check, but it also requires users to open and close their mouths to prove they're real.

You can use Death Stranding's photo mode to bypass Discord's age verification https://t.co/o9n0c0lwkI pic.twitter.com/mvYmhZZCVp

– Dany Sterkhov 🛡✈ (@DanySterkhov) July 25, 2025

In response, one user shared screenshots from the game Death Stranding, which lets players manipulate facial expressions in its photo mode. PC Gamer confirmed the trick works by holding a phone camera up to a TV displaying the in-game footage.

The Online Safety Act has drawn criticism over privacy concerns, but the surge in VPN usage and other clever workarounds, shows that enforcing online age verification is proving difficult, if not impossible.

Permalink to story:

Brits are circumventing UK age verification with VPNs and Death Stranding photos

 

[AlexIL]

LOL

UK is such a laughter stock these days.

It would be amusing if wouldn't be sad. I love British humor but this one seem too high class, where's the catch.

 

[opckieran]

Funny as this is, it’ll just be their justification for implementing even more invasive measures.

 

[seeprime]

Funny as this is, it’ll just be their justification for implementing even more invasive measures.

More invasive actions would only turn the UK into a police state simply to prevent horny kids from looking at boobies. It would make no sense.

 

[themastergoose]

More invasive actions would only turn the UK into a police state simply to prevent horny kids from looking at boobies. It would make no sense.

What if:

A) We're already there, and...
B) "Protecting the innocent children" is just smoke and mirrors for what they really want to do here

Just consider for a moment they're also trying to bring in a ban on VPN use and whole disk encryption.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

More invasive actions would only turn the UK into a police state simply to prevent horny kids from looking at boobies. It would make no sense.

Unless the goal was turn the UK into a police state.

Then it makes perfect sense.

 

[opckieran]

More invasive actions would only turn the UK into a police state simply to prevent horny kids from looking at boobies. It would make no sense.

The objection here is "simply to".
It's never simply to.

 

[Squid Surprise]

This was never intended to actually DO anything… only to “appear to do” something.

Good work UK…

 

[3volv3d]

LOL

UK is such a laughter stock these days.

It would be amusing if wouldn't be sad. I love British humor but this one seem too high class, where's the catch.

And which country with it's amazingly on track for government of the year do you come from?

Ive noticed the UK govt. heavily copy bad ideas from America and implement them, even though they don't work in America. Why oh why would they work in the UK.

The UK, need to just slowly back away from the crazy gun toting Christians who clearly can't pick a lane.

Altho I believe this idea was copying the french or how many states are doing this currently?

Unless the goal was turn the UK into a police state.

Then it makes perfect sense.

I think the UK is screwed. And it's already a police state.
They just don't officially state it.
John Majorly Boring, Tony Bleurgh, David Comeonthen, joined America on the bogus WMD hunts.
Rishindian Sunak wanting his families Indian companies I believe to be in charge of Britcoin an all digital UK money policing so they know if you transferred money to old Greg and his fishy green business. And brought us the doggy Holocaust with the XL breed ban, not make better policies to own pets, so as to prevent *** hats owning n hurting animals.
And now Herr Starlin Starmer literally taking freedom of speech from citizens. Like watching Trump and going yeah he's doing so well. No one's thinking he's a lying convicted sex pest.
While bringing back the 1970s no sex were British slogan. So basically being as useless as all politicians before him.
Nothing Fing changes.

At least Trump isn't at the helm or the UK would be French

 

[BuckarooBonzaii]

The UK, as well as the EU will realize that as new generations emerge their draconian laws will be met with civil unrest.

 

[opckieran]

The UK, as well as the EU will realize that as new generations emerge their draconian laws will be met with civil unrest.

It’s far more likely that they’ll have been subverted by that point. Western Leaders seem to specialize in destabilizing their own populations; they have many different tactics to achieve this goal.

 

[ferrellsl]

Unless the goal was turn the UK into a police state.

Then it makes perfect sense.

It's been a police state for a while now. They jail people for saying mean things.

 

[Xelions]

Just consider for a moment they're also trying to bring in a ban on VPN use and whole disk encryption.

You can't implement either. It's impractical on so many levels...
1. VPNs are used all the time to access business/government systems remotely and securely
2. The instant you restrict encryption, your own national security becomes more vulnerable - other countries will f#$k you up!

 

[TooQik]

You can't implement either. It's impractical on so many levels...
1. VPNs are used all the time to access business/government systems remotely and securely
2. The instant you restrict encryption, your own national security becomes more vulnerable - other countries will f#$k you up!

It will be a "do as I say, not do as I do" ultimatum as governments like to enforce.

 

[pgcharlie]

What is next, blood test and carbon dating?

 

[Mortyric]

...
2. The instant you restrict encryption, your own national security becomes more vulnerable - other countries will f#$k you up!

Bold of you to assume that any such restriction will be implemented at the government level.

I have maintained that any attack on privacy and anonymity by any government is just an act of control. They do not necessarily care about whatever smokescreen they use to justify it, in this case it is adult websites, previously it has been security and terrorism. They just use those to prevent an outrage and get the "controlled" on board with it.

Guard your privacy, you do not need to have something to hide to not want anyone snooping around without probable cause.