Proton VPN signups surge 1,400% as UK age verification law begins

New age checks for adult websites continue to send users flocking to Proton VPN.

The popular virtual public network (VPN) is reporting a 1,400% hourly increase in sign-ups over its baseline so far on Friday, July 25, the day the UK's age verification law goes into effect. This is according to an Observatory page on the Proton VPN website that tracks such usage jumps. The new rule requires sites and apps with explicit content to verify a visitor's age via methods such as facial recognition and banking info, per Mashable's Anna Iovine, with the goal of preventing minors from accessing the content.

Search interest for the term "Proton VPN" also saw a seven-day spike in the UK around 2 a.m. BST Friday, according to a Google Trends chart. Proton VPN shared a screenshot of the chart on X, writing, "Pretty sure it's not the footy this time..."

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Proton VPN previously documented a 1,000% surge in new subscribers in June after the adult site Pornhub left France. Mashable has reached out to Proton VPN for comment.

This story is developing.