Australians are downloading VPNs in record numbers as new laws requiring age verification for adult content and app stores come into force, with one major porn distributor blocking access.
AUSTRALIANS have been downloading virtual private networks (VPNs) in droves as the country rolls out sweeping new online age restrictions.
A separate law that went into effect on Monday requires AI-powered chatbot services to keep certain content from minors or face fines of up to A$49.5 million.
The country also joined Britain, France and dozens of US states requiring websites which disseminate pornography to verify users are over 18.
App stores must also run age checks before allowing downloads of software labelled 18+.
The country’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the measures aimed to afford children the same protection online as the world expected offline.
“This just really brings … those protections that we put for kids in place to the digital realm,” she told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Australian VPN downloads across major providers nearly tripled to 28,722 on March 8, the eve of the deadline.
Downloads began rising sharply on March 3, averaging 15,244 a day in the six days leading to the deadline.
Three of the 10 most downloaded free smartphone apps on Tuesday were VPNs, a chart published by iPhone maker Apple showed.
The second-most downloaded free app was a VPN called VPN – Super Unlimited Proxy, behind only an app for tracking fuel prices.
Canada-based Aylo, owner of multiple pornography websites, blocked Australians from accessing the platforms RedTube and YouPorn.
The websites carried a banner saying it was “not currently accepting new account registrations in your region”.
Aylo said it had “restricted access to our platforms in a number of locations due to ineffective and haphazard age verification laws”.
Tom Sulston, deputy chair of advocacy group Digital Rights Watch, said it was unsurprising people were reaching for VPNs.
“My hope is that, not only will they discover that this works for looking at spicier internet sites, but that it’s just generally a good idea to use VPNs when you’re traversing the internet,” he said.
