tl;dr
French users rushed to ProtonVPN after Pornhub blocked access in France due to new government-mandated age verification laws. ProtonVPN saw a 1,000% signup surge within 30 minutes. The French law requires adult sites to verify users' ages, which Pornhub and Proton criticize for risking data theft an...
French Pornhub users experienced a dramatic 1,000% surge in ProtonVPN signups within just 30 minutes after the site blocked access in France due to new government-mandated age verification laws. ProtonVPN, a leading privacy tool provider headquartered in Switzerland, reported the sharp increase but did not disclose prior user numbers, complicating the full impact analysis. This rapid growth even surpassed the VPN’s surge during the U.S. TikTok ban, reflecting widespread use of VPNs to bypass censorship.
The French law, enacted in May 2024, requires adult websites to verify the ages of all users, prompting Pornhub’s parent company, Aylo, and Proton to openly criticize the measure. Both argue that site-level age verification exposes adults' sensitive data to theft and misuse while failing to effectively protect children from illicit content. Instead, they advocate for device-level age verification enforced by major tech companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft to enhance privacy and security.
VPNs, which encrypt internet traffic and mask IP addresses, have become essential tools for users seeking to circumvent regional restrictions. The surge in ProtonVPN signups highlights how digital restrictions drive adoption of privacy technologies. For context, ProtonVPN recorded 3 million downloads on Google Play and an additional 620,000 on Apple’s App Store in May, outpacing competitors such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN during the period.
Historically, Pornhub has faced significant regulatory hurdles, including payment bans from major credit card companies after allegations of illegal content surfaced in 2020. In response, the platform began accepting cryptocurrency subscriptions as an alternative payment method, further emphasizing the shifting dynamics of privacy and access in digital finance and content delivery.
Age verification laws are gaining global momentum, with similar regulations already adopted in the UK, Germany, and 19 U.S. states, including Alabama, Florida, and Texas. These laws continue to spark debate about balancing child protection with user privacy and unrestricted access to adult content. The recent French episode underscores the unresolved tensions between government regulation, technological workaround, and the evolving norms of digital privacy in the 21st century.