Overview

• Websites across the UK now require “highly effective” age verification for adult or harmful content, prompting broad removal or blocking of news, social media posts and everyday services to avoid Ofcom penalties
• VPN use in the UK has surged to record levels since July 25 as users seek to bypass mandatory ID checks, raising fears that children may migrate to more extreme, unregulated corners of the internet
• Critics warn the compulsory collection of biometric and identity data heightens risks of mass surveillance and identity theft while advantaging major platforms and verification firms such as Persona
• Public support for the act has fallen from 80% to 69% since implementation, and a repeal petition has attracted almost 500,000 signatures demanding government action
• In Washington, senators led by Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn are advancing the Kids Online Safety Act, sparking debate over its potential impact on free speech and ideological content controls