- Italy has implemented age verification for online adult content
- This has sparked a surge in online searches for VPNs
- Risk is that users may fall into the trap of free or shady VPNs
The demand for VPNs has risen sharply in Italy following the implementation of mandatory age verification in the country.
Data from Google Trends shows that searches related to VPNs have doubled after Italy introduced mandatory age checks.
Effective November 12, 2025, websites and video-sharing platforms that host adult content are legally obliged to verify that a user is 18 years old or over.
In implementing an age verification system such as this, Italy joins the likes of the UK, France, and numerous US states, all of which have made moves to restrict access to adult content.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a popular tool that can be used to hide a user’s online location as well as their internet traffic, with the best VPN services allowing them to privately circumvent internet censorship and other online restrictions.
Why Italy’s age verification has citizens turning to VPNs
Italy’s communications regulator, AGCOM, has been quick to assure citizens that the country’s age verification system will be both secure and private.
The new system requires users to verify their age through a certified third party, which checks they’re over 18 and then issues an anonymous digital token confirming this. The token is then sent to the adult website in question, which should never see the visitor’s personal data, while the verifier doesn’t know which site is being visited, providing "double anonymity."
Despite potential safeguards, concerns are still being raised that even if the token system hides a user’s identity and only confirms a user is over 18, other technical traces of activity could theoretically make it possible to link website visits back to a particular user.
Likewise, there are fears that the system could end up creating a centralized database of sensitive age-related verification events, which could be attractive to both hackers and snoopers alike.
VPN interest surging in the wake of Italy’s age verification comes as little surprise. Even though Italy’s system uses anonymous tokens, it’s clear that many people still feel uneasy about showing any proof of age to access adult content. There may also be worry regarding the possibility that activity could somehow be tracked or logged.
The importance of choosing a reputable VPN service
One of the biggest unintended risks of Italy’s age verification rollout is that if many people turn to VPNs to avoid age checks, some may unwittingly choose free or otherwise shady VPN services. Ironically, this would expose them to more security and privacy risks than the very system they’re trying to avoid.
Besides the best free VPNs, most freebies make money by logging identifying information from users – their browsing data included – and then selling that information to third parties. Furthermore, some low-reputation VPNs include embedded trackers or even malware in their apps, putting users at risk of logging or even credential theft.
Even those VPNs that don’t knowingly put privacy at risk may simply lack the security required to keep data safe. Weak encryption and outdated VPN protocols, or the absence of a kill switch or DNS leak protection, can all put users at risk.
When evaluating VPN services, it’s essential to look for one that uses strong encryption and modern VPN protocols. A genuine no-logs policy is also important, preferably one that has been independently audited.
If you're looking for a new service, it's worth keeping in mind that some reliable premium services have already dropped their prices with an early Black Friday VPN deal, including TechRadar's best VPN pick, NordVPN...
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone using a VPN service to break the law or conduct illegal activities. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
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