- Italy has introduced age verification for adult content online
- This has led to an increase in online searches for VPNs.
- There is a risk of users falling into the hands of free or questionable VPNs
Demand for VPNs has increased significantly in Italy since mandatory age verification was introduced in the country.
Google Trends data shows that VPN searches doubled after Italy introduced mandatory age verification.
Starting November 12, 2025, websites and video sharing platforms that host child-prohibited content will be legally required to verify that a user is at least 18 years old.
In introducing such an age verification system, Italy joins the UK, France and many US states, all of which have taken steps to restrict access to child-prohibited content.
A virtual private network (VPN) is a popular tool that can hide a user’s online location and their internet traffic. The best VPN services allow you to privately bypass internet censorship and other online restrictions.
Why Italy’s Age Verification Policy Is Driving Citizens to Turn to VPNs
Italian communications regulator AGCOM was quick to reassure citizens that the country’s age verification system will be secure and private.
The new system requires users to verify their age through a certified third party that verifies they are over 18 and then issues an anonymous digital token to confirm this. The token is then sent to the appropriate adult site, which is never allowed to see the visitor’s personal information, while the verifier does not know which site is being visited, ensuring “double anonymity”.
Despite possible safeguards, concerns remain that even if the token system hides a user’s identity and only confirms that they are over 18, other technical traces of activity could theoretically lead to site visits being attributed to a specific user.
There are also concerns that the system could eventually create a centralized database of sensitive age-related authentication events, which could attract both hackers and spies.
The growing interest in VPNs after age verification in Italy is not surprising. Although the Italian system uses anonymous tokens, it is clear that many people are still concerned about the need to provide proof of age to access adult content. There may also be concerns that the activity may be tracked or recorded in some way.
The importance of choosing a reliable VPN service
One of the biggest unwanted risks with the introduction of age verification in Italy is that while many people turn to VPNs to avoid age verification, some may inadvertently choose free or dubious VPN services. Ironically, this would expose them to greater security and privacy risks than the system they are trying to avoid.
Apart from the best free VPNs, most free VPNs make money by recording user credentials, including browser data, and selling that information to third parties. Additionally, some notorious VPNs include built-in trackers or even malware in their apps, putting users at risk of having their credentials logged or even stolen.
Even VPNs that don’t intentionally compromise privacy may simply not have the security needed to protect your data. Weak encryption and outdated VPN protocols or the lack of a kill switch or DNS leak protection can put users at risk.
When evaluating VPN services, it’s important to look for one that uses strong encryption and modern VPN protocols. It is also important to have a real no-logging policy, preferably independently verified.
If you’re looking for a new service, remember that some trusted premium services have already dropped their prices with an early Black Friday VPN deal, including NordVPN, TechRadar’s top VPN pick…
Disclaimer
We test and assess VPN services in the context of legal recreational use. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms of that service). 2. Protect your online security and improve your online privacy abroad. We do not support or condone the use of a VPN service to break the law or conduct illegal activities. Future Publishing does not condone or condone the use of pirated copies for a fee.
