VPN downloads in Australia have surged after major adult websites began blocking users in response to the country’s new age verification laws.
Australia just proved what privacy advocates have said for years. Government-mandated age verification doesn’t stop people from accessing content online. It pushes them toward VPN services instead.
Australia’s New Age Verification Laws
On Monday, Australia began enforcing strict age verification rules for adult websites/apps, violent video games, AI chatbots, and other restricted content. Platforms must now confirm users are over 18 before granting access to explicit material. Fines can reach $49.5 million Australian dollars per violation.
Rather than collect government IDs or biometric facial scans from visitors, several major adult sites chose a different path.
Pornhub, RedTube, YouPorn, and Tube8, all owned by Canadian company Aylo, blocked Australian users entirely. Pornhub now only shows safe-for-work content on its homepage for anyone browsing with an Australian IP address.
Users on Reddit reported being asked to verify their age on X (Twitter) each time they viewed adult posts.
VPN Downloads Skyrocket
The response from Australians was swift. Downloads of VPN apps nearly tripled to 28,722 on March 8, up from roughly 10,000 per day the previous week, according to analytics firm Apptopia.
On the iPhone free app charts, NordVPN shot from 189th place to 13th. Proton VPN climbed from 174th to 19th. Three of the top ten most downloaded free smartphone apps were VPN services.
Hide Your Digital Fingerprint
The UK also saw VPN downloads skyrocket when similar rules took effect last year. Proton reported an 1,800% increase in downloads during that first week alone.
Why Australians Are Pushing Back
Electronic Frontiers Australia chair John Pane said he would have bet money on this outcome. Many adults are uncomfortable handing over passport photos or driver’s licenses to third-party companies for the purpose of viewing legal content.
Tom Sulston of Digital Rights Watch hopes people who discover VPNs for this reason will realize they’re useful for everyday browsing as well.
Users on Reddit also have a lot to say regarding this latest Australian blocks.
Australia isn’t alone in cracking down on adult content. Multiple U.S. states have introduced bills to ban or restrict pornography access, and more countries are expected to adopt similar restrictions soon.
Unblocking Adult Sites in Australia
A quality VPN allows users to connect through servers outside of Australia, bypassing age verification prompts without handing over personal identification.
Surfshark VPNÂ is our top recommendation for this. The service operates servers in five Australian cities: Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth. For unblocking restricted sites, users can connect to a server in a country that doesn’t enforce age checks.
For a full breakdown, check out our guide on the Best VPNs for Porn.
Final Thoughts from Troy
Australia’s age verification rollout is following the same script we saw play out in the UK. Governments introduce ID-based restrictions, platforms block users or demand personal data, and VPN downloads go through the roof.
Until lawmakers recognize that privacy-invasive verification systems don’t work as intended, this cycle will keep repeating.
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For more details on this story, refer to the report from The Guardian and Australia’s official government website for more updates.
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