The blocking of access to PornHub and its sister sites, such as YouPorn and RedTube, in France has led to a surge in subscriptions to virtual private network (VPN) services. Along with ProtonVPN, NordVPN has also seen a 170% increase in usage of its service. ProtonVPN PornHub France

This week, Aylo, the owner of PornHub and other porn sites, suspended access to its platforms in France. The decision comes in response to a new French law requiring porn sites to implement “tighter” age verification measures.

In the case of ProtonVPN, the number of new subscriptions “exploded” shortly after the suspension of access. In a post on social network X, the platform indicates that, in just 30 minutes, there was a 1,000% increase in registrations on its VPN.

VPN Demand Soars in France Amid Porn Ban and Digital Crackdown

According to ProtonVPN, the increase is even more significant than that recorded when TikTok was initially blocked in the United States.

According to PornHub statistics, in 2024, France was the site’s second-largest market, ahead of the United States.

Speaking to Politico, a spokesperson for NordVPN, another virtual private network service, said the company has seen a 170% increase in usage since the start of the lockdown in France.

“We see similar spikes when digital freedoms are threatened or when content is censored,”

the spokesperson said.

According to data compiled by the Top10VPN platform, global demand for VPNs increased by 334% on June 4, compared to the average of the last 28 days.

PornHub Slams France’s Age-Check Law, Calls for Device-Level Verification

France introduced the new law in 2024 and this year, the requirements of the legislation began to be gradually introduced, including users confirming their age through documentation such as an ID card or bank card, reports the website France24.

In a statement, the owner of PornHub said that 

“French citizens deserve a government and a regulator that takes seriously the prevention of minors’ access to adult content”, as well as “laws that protect their privacy and sensitive data”.

The company says it has tried to work with the government for years, but “the results have been clear: age verification based on websites doesn’t work .” “It doesn’t protect children and exposes the data of millions of French people to data leaks and cyberattacks,” it says.

According to Aylo, the solution to the problem already exists and involves age verification based on devices. In this case, the government would have to require Apple, Google and Microsoft, that is, the manufacturers of operating systems, to verify the age of users on their own devices before allowing access to adult content.

“The French government refuses to take this step and continues to insist on futile and merely symbolic regulatory measures, which are impossible to enforce, do not protect children and put their personal data at risk,” the company highlights.

EU Plans Age Check App, Probes Porn Platforms

It is recalled that the European Commission has opened new investigations into Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos, four of the largest online pornography platforms, on suspicion of violating the Digital Services Regulation (DSA).

According to the EU executive, the investigations into the four major platforms focus on what is being done to prevent young people from accessing harmful content.

In a recent interview, Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, revealed that the European Commission will launch in July a new application for age verification on digital platforms, such as social networks, to protect minors and prevent them from accessing inappropriate content on the Internet.

Conclusion

This sharp rise in VPN usage underscores a fundamental truth: when access to content is restricted without privacy-conscious solutions, users will seek out workarounds that protect both their freedom and personal data. France’s approach to age verification, while well-intentioned, risks eroding trust by forcing invasive compliance without offering secure, scalable alternatives. Sustainable digital regulation must balance child protection with the public’s growing demand for online privacy.