The UK government has confirmed it has “no plans to repeal the Online Safety Act” despite a growing public outcry over new mandatory age verification checks introduced on July 25. These checks require UK internet users to prove their age via facial scans, ID documents, or credit cards to access adult or potentially harmful content online, including on platforms like Reddit, X, and dating or gaming apps.
The backlash has been swift. Over 450,000 people have signed a petition opposing the measures, citing concerns over privacy, free speech, and data security. The government’s Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology responded to the petition stating that it remains committed to working with Ofcom for full implementation of the Act.
While the intent is to protect children, critics argue that the age checks create more risk than safety. They fear large-scale data collection could lead to leaks, abuse, or misuse, and question whether such strict measures actually protect users or merely push them to less regulated corners of the internet. Some commentators, including VPN companies, warn of censorship and surveillance creep.
Notably, VPN use has skyrocketed in response. Proton VPN reported a 1,400% spike in traffic immediately after the age checks went live, as users sought to shield their identity and avoid handing over sensitive data to third-party verifiers.
Despite calls for repeal, the government insists that protections must be enforced to safeguard young and vulnerable users. With Parliament now obliged to consider the petition for debate, this story is far from over raising essential questions about how to balance child safety, digital rights, and online freedom in an increasingly surveilled internet.
