Latest news with #RedTube
Euronews
3 days ago
- Euronews
VPN searches soar in the UK after new online age checks enacted
People across the United Kingdom are turning to virtual private networks (VPNs) that block their locations to get around the country's new online age verification rules. Last week, new rules for age verification came into force through the UK's Online Safety Act, which requires people to submit identification documents, age-estimating face scans, and financial documents such as credit card checks in order to access adult-only websites, such as pornography platforms. Right after the act came into effect, VPN company Proton posted on the social media platform X that it had seen signups for its services soar by more than 1,400 per cent in the UK. The company said that this surge in interest has been 'sustained,' unlike other recent peaks, for example when people in France temporarily lost access to adult sites like Pornhub and RedTube last month due to changing legislation. Data from Google Trends shows that searches for VPN companies such as Surfshark were up 300 per cent over the weekend throughout the UK – and in some geographical areas, have reached their peak popularity. Searches for related topics, like 'proposed UK internet age verification system' and 'age verification system' were up 2,450 per cent and 1,950 per cent, respectively. What is a VPN? A VPN establishes an encrypted digital connection between the user's computer or device with a remote server that's owned by a provider. When a user tries to access a website, the device's Internet Services Provider (ISP) receives the request and redirects them to the site. Through a VPN, that request is redirected through a remote server before it connects the user to the site. The connection 'masks' a device's unique Internet Protocol (IP) number, which includes information about the device's location and browsing activity and could allow people to access websites that are blocked in their region. People have other reasons for using VPNs beyond bypassing firewalls online. VPN providers and tech companies say they also hide users' data from being sold to third parties, and protect their data privacy online.
LeMonde
20-07-2025
- Business
- LeMonde
Age verification becomes mandatory on porn sites in the UK, and gradually in France
The internet appears to be entering the "age verification era." This was the prediction made in June by France's media and digital communications regulator (Arcom) in its contribution to European guidelines on the protection of minors. It is clear that new fronts have opened up worldwide for the pornographic industry, which has been on the frontlines for several years. The United Kingdom made headlines last month by announcing that, starting July 25, several major porn sites would deploy age verification tools in the UK, retiring the familiar and purely declarative button, "I am over 18." Among these are several websites – Pornhub, RedTube, YouPorn, Tube8 and MyDirtyHobby – run by Aylo, a leading Canadian and Cypriot group in the industry. The list also includes "camshow" platforms, such as ICF Group (Streamate, LiveHDCams), Cam4 and Cypriot giant Stripchat. Adult video sites are not the only ones complying with the measures set out in the Online Safety Act, passed in 2023. In recent weeks, a range of publishers have announced plans to deploy age verification tools in the UK, starting with Reddit, the American social media platform, which will hide its pornographic content behind a filter designed to keep minors out. The same goes for the gay dating app Grindr and even the social network Bluesky.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Porn sites must check age of French users, says top court
Major pornographic websites Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube need to verify the age of users in France, the country's top administrative court said Tuesday. More than half of all boys in France access porn sites on average every month from age 12, French audiovisual watchdog Arcom said in June. France is trying to prevent minors from accessing pornography, but has faced pushback from adult websites. The government in March ordered porn sites based in the European Union, but not in France, to check the ages of their visitors based on a French law from 2024, to prevent underage users from accessing them. Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube, all owned by the same parent company, made themselves unavailable in France in early June in protest. Hammy Limited, an adult film firm based on Cyprus and the operator of the Xhamster platform, took legal steps against the French decree. The Paris administrative tribunal last month then suspended it, pending an investigation into whether it was compatible with EU legislation. After the government appealed, the Council of State, the country's top administrative court, on Tuesday said it had annulled that suspension. "YouPorn and Pornhub hit a wall. Judicial manoeuvrings in order to not protect children don't work," said France's junior minister for digital affairs Clara Chappaz on X. In a bid to protect privacy, Arcom, the French watchdog, has recommended operators offer a third-party "double-blind" option that would prevent the platforms from seeing users' identifying information. Aylo, which reports seven million visitors in France daily across its various platforms, has called instead for governments to require makers of operating systems such as Apple, Microsoft and Google to verify users' ages at the level of individual devices. The EU Commission said on Monday that five EU countries, including France, would test an app aimed at preventing children from accessing harmful content online. The commission unveiled the prototype of an age-verification app that Denmark, France, Greece, Italy and Spain will customise to launch national versions within several months.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Porn sites must check age of French users, says top court
Major pornographic websites Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube need to verify the age of users in France, the country's top administrative court said than half of all boys in France access porn sites on average every month from age 12, French audiovisual watchdog Arcom said in is trying to prevent minors from accessing pornography, but has faced pushback from adult government in March ordered porn sites based in the European Union, but not in France, to check the ages of their visitors based on a French law from 2024, to prevent underage users from accessing YouPorn and RedTube, all owned by the same parent company, made themselves unavailable in France in early June in Limited, an adult film firm based on Cyprus and the operator of the Xhamster platform, took legal steps against the French Paris administrative tribunal last month then suspended it, pending an investigation into whether it was compatible with EU the government appealed, the Council of State, the country's top administrative court, on Tuesday said it had annulled that suspension."YouPorn and Pornhub hit a wall. Judicial manoeuvrings in order to not protect children don't work," said France's junior minister for digital affairs Clara Chappaz on a bid to protect privacy, Arcom, the French watchdog, has recommended operators offer a third-party "double-blind" option that would prevent the platforms from seeing users' identifying which reports seven million visitors in France daily across its various platforms, has called instead for governments to require makers of operating systems such as Apple, Microsoft and Google to verify users' ages at the level of individual EU Commission said on Monday that five EU countries, including France, would test an app aimed at preventing children from accessing harmful content commission unveiled the prototype of an age-verification app that Denmark, France, Greece, Italy and Spain will customise to launch national versions within several months.
The Hindu
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Porn sites must check age of French users, says top court
Major pornographic websites Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube need to verify the age of users in France, the country's top administrative court said Tuesday. More than half of all boys in France access porn sites on average every month from age 12, French audiovisual watchdog Arcom said in June. France is trying to prevent minors from accessing pornography, but has faced pushback from adult websites. The government in March ordered porn sites based in the European Union, but not in France, to check the ages of their visitors based on a French law from 2024, to prevent underage users from accessing them. Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube, all owned by the same parent company, made themselves unavailable in France in early June in protest. Hammy Limited, an adult film firm based on Cyprus and the operator of the Xhamster platform, took legal steps against the French decree. The Paris administrative tribunal last month then suspended it, pending an investigation into whether it was compatible with EU legislation. After the government appealed, the Council of State, the country's top administrative court, on Tuesday said it had annulled that suspension. "YouPorn and Pornhub hit a wall. Judicial manoeuvrings in order to not protect children don't work," said France's junior minister for digital affairs Clara Chappaz on X. In a bid to protect privacy, Arcom, the French watchdog, has recommended operators offer a third-party "double-blind" option that would prevent the platforms from seeing users' identifying information. Aylo, which reports seven million visitors in France daily across its various platforms, has called instead for governments to require makers of operating systems such as Apple, Microsoft and Google to verify users' ages at the level of individual devices. The EU Commission said on Monday that five EU countries, including France, would test an app aimed at preventing children from accessing harmful content online. The commission unveiled the prototype of an age-verification app that Denmark, France, Greece, Italy and Spain will customise to launch national versions within several months.
