{"id":7766,"date":"2025-07-28T19:27:53","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T18:27:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/news\/online-safety-act-vpns-booming-safety-not-so-much\/"},"modified":"2025-07-28T19:27:53","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T18:27:53","slug":"online-safety-act-vpns-booming-safety-not-so-much","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/news\/online-safety-act-vpns-booming-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Online Safety Act \u2014 VPNs booming! Safety, not so much.."},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1067 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/728x282-border.png\" alt=\"Click To Compare Broadband Deals\" width=\"728\" height=\"282\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Online_Safety_Act_%E2%80%93_VPNs_%E2%81%A2Booming_Safety_Not_So_Much\"><\/span>Online Safety Act &#x2013; VPNs &#x2062;Booming! Safety, Not So Much<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The recent implementation of &#x200D;the Online Safety&#x2063; Act has led&#x2062; to a significant surge in&#x2062; the usage of Virtual Private&#x2064; Networks (VPNs). However, despite the increase in&#x200D; VPN&#x200B; adoption, concerns about genuine online safety remain &#x2063;prevalent. &#x200C;In this article, we will explore the implications of the&#x200C; Online Safety Act, the rapid growth&#x200B; of VPNs, &#x2062;and why enhanced&#x200C; privacy does not necessarily equate to improved security.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Understanding_the_Online_Safety_Act\"><\/span>Understanding the Online Safety Act<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Online Safety act was &#x2064;introduced to provide a regulatory framework &#x200B;aimed at enhancing the safety&#x200D; of internet&#x200B; users, particularly vulnerable populations such as children.With increasing reports of cyberbullying, &#x2064;harassment, &#x200D;and online exploitation, governments have stepped&#x200D; up efforts to enforce digital safety measures.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"key%E2%81%A3_Provisions_of%E2%80%8B_the_Online_Safety_Act\"><\/span>key&#x2063; Provisions of&#x200B; the Online Safety Act<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Online&#x2062; Safety Act features several critical provisions designed to hold online platforms accountable for user safety. These include:<\/p>\n<ul><p><\/p>\n<li><strong>Content Moderation Requirements<\/strong>: Social media platforms are mandated to &#x200D;moderate &#x2063;content actively and remove &#x2064;harmful&#x2064; materials.\n<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><strong>Reporting Mechanisms<\/strong>: Users are given a clear pathway&#x2064; to report abusive content&#x2063; or interactions.\n<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><strong>Age Verification<\/strong>: Platforms are required to implement measures to verify the&#x200D; age&#x200C; of their users,particularly for sites containing &#x200D;adult content.\n<\/li>\n<p>\n<\/p><\/ul>\n<p>While the intention behind&#x2062; these regulations is to protect users, questions arise about&#x2064; their effectiveness&#x2062; and enforcement.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Boom_%E2%81%A3of_VPN_Usage\"><\/span>The Boom &#x2063;of VPN Usage<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As&#x200C; a direct response to growing online safety concerns and regulatory measures like the Online Safety Act, VPN usage has skyrocketed.&#x200D; The&#x200B; allure of enhanced privacy and the ability to circumvent geo-restrictions have attracted millions of new users.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Statistics_%E2%80%8Don_%E2%80%8CVPN_Adoption\"><\/span>Statistics &#x200D;on &#x200C;VPN Adoption<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>According to industry&#x2062; research,&#x2062; global VPN&#x2064; usage is expected to grow considerably, with an estimated <strong>31% of internet users globally utilizing VPN &#x200C;services by 2025<\/strong>. This represents a considerable shift in&#x2062; user&#x200D; behavior driven by&#x2064; fears of government surveillance, data breaches, and online censorship.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_the_surge_in_VPNs\"><\/span>Why the surge in VPNs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Several factors contribute to&#x2063; the booming &#x2062;interest in VPNs:<\/p>\n<ul><p><\/p>\n<li><strong>Privacy &#x200D;Concerns<\/strong>: as &#x2062;users become more aware of digital surveillance,&#x2064; the desire for privacy&#x200C; becomes&#x200D; a top priority.\n<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><strong>Access&#x2064; to Geo-Restricted Content<\/strong>: Many users turn to&#x200D; VPNs to access &#x200D;content unavailable in&#x200C; their geographic areas, particularly streaming services.\n<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><strong>Enhanced Security<\/strong>: Users seek more secure online connections, &#8291;especially when &#8291;using public&#8292; <a class=\"glossaryLink\"  aria-describedby=\"tt\"  data-cmtooltip=\"cmtt_fec65dd0c2d0139e688550c76ecd13cd\"  href=\"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/glossary\/wi-fi\/\"  target=\"_blank\"  data-mobile-support=\"0\"  data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]' tabindex='0' role='link'>Wi-fi<\/a> networks.\n<\/li>\n<p>\n<\/p><\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Safety_Concerns_amidst_VPN_Growth\"><\/span>Safety Concerns amidst VPN Growth<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Despite the increased use of vpns,there &#x2064;are significant concerns regarding user &#x2064;safety that must be &#x200D;addressed. VPNs can obscure user identity and location, but they do&#x200B; not eliminate the risks associated &#x200B;with online behavior.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Potential%E2%81%A2_Risks_with_VPN_Usage\"><\/span>Potential&#x2062; Risks with VPN Usage<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Here are some noteworthy risks associated&#x2062; with using VPNs that users&#x200B; may overlook:<\/p>\n<ul><p><\/p>\n<li><strong>False&#x200C; Sense of Security<\/strong>: Many individuals believe that &#x200C;using a VPN alone guarantees total &#x200B;anonymity and safety.However, this is &#x2064;misleading, as various vulnerabilities can still expose users to threats.\n<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><strong><a class=\"glossaryLink\"  aria-describedby=\"tt\"  data-cmtooltip=\"cmtt_b283741d0a8ad2ce61ab0ac3e13705f9\"  href=\"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/glossary\/data-logging\/\"  target=\"_blank\"  data-mobile-support=\"0\"  data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]' tabindex='0' role='link'>Data Logging<\/a> Policies<\/strong>: Not all VPN services&#x200B; have &#x200D;reputable data handling practices. Some &#x200B;may&#x200D; log user activity, &#x2064;which &#x2063;can compromise privacy more &#x2062;than using no VPN at&#x2062; all.\n<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><strong><a class=\"glossaryLink\"  aria-describedby=\"tt\"  data-cmtooltip=\"cmtt_2e60925f438585c68cef5fb6d63a7bee\"  href=\"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/glossary\/phishing\/\"  target=\"_blank\"  data-mobile-support=\"0\"  data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]' tabindex='0' role='link'>Phishing<\/a> and <a class=\"glossaryLink\"  aria-describedby=\"tt\"  data-cmtooltip=\"cmtt_2783e39fe2247acbd6b73c46956f6426\"  href=\"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/glossary\/malware\/\"  target=\"_blank\"  data-mobile-support=\"0\"  data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]' tabindex='0' role='link'>Malware<\/a> Risks<\/strong>: untrustworthy VPN providers may expose users to phishing attacks or malware, further jeopardizing their online safety.\n<\/li>\n<p>\n<\/p><\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Choosing_the_Right_VPN_for_Safety\"><\/span>Choosing the Right VPN for Safety<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>With countless VPN options&#x200C; available, selecting a service that genuinely prioritizes safety is crucial.Here are key features to&#x200D; look for when evaluating a VPN:<\/p>\n<ul><p><\/p>\n<li><strong>No-Logs Policy<\/strong>:&#x200D; Choose a&#x2062; VPN &#x200B;that explicitly states itS commitment&#x2064; to&#x200D; not logging &#x200C;user activity.\n<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><strong>Strong Encryption<\/strong>: Look for military-grade encryption protocols&#8290; that&#8292; prioritize <a class=\"glossaryLink\"  aria-describedby=\"tt\"  data-cmtooltip=\"cmtt_727cc2efbd807108573bac4c5698d89b\"  href=\"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/glossary\/data-security\/\"  target=\"_blank\"  data-mobile-support=\"0\"  data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]' tabindex='0' role='link'>data security<\/a>.\n<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><strong>Reputable&#x200D; Reviews<\/strong>: Research and&#x200B; read reviews from reputable sources &#x200B;to&#x200C; ensure the chosen VPN provider has a good track &#x2062;record.\n<\/li>\n<p>\n<\/p><\/ul>\n<table style=\"width:100%; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 20px 0;\">\n<tr><p><\/p>\n<td style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd;\">Feature<\/td>\n<p><\/p>\n<td style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd;\">Importance<\/td>\n<p>\n<\/p><\/tr>\n<p><\/p>\n<tr><p><\/p>\n<td style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd;\">No-Logs Policy<\/td>\n<p><\/p>\n<td style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd;\">Ensures user activity is not tracked<\/td>\n<p>\n<\/p><\/tr>\n<p><\/p>\n<tr><p><\/p>\n<td style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd;\">Strong Encryption<\/td>\n<p><\/p>\n<td style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd;\">Protects data against interception<\/td>\n<p>\n<\/p><\/tr>\n<p><\/p>\n<tr><p><\/p>\n<td style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd;\">Reputable Reviews<\/td>\n<p><\/p>\n<td style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ddd;\">Validates trustworthiness of the service<\/td>\n<p>\n<\/p><\/tr>\n<p>\n<\/p><\/table>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As the Online Safety Act reshapes the digital landscape, the &zwj;corresponding rise&#8292; in VPN &#8291;usage highlights a critical paradox. While VPNs offer&#8203; users a layer of privacy, this does not guarantee their safety online. Prioritizing genuine &#8291;security practices is essential in&#8291; a world where&#8291; digital threats remain ever-present. Thru informed choices, users &#8203;can navigate the complexities of online safety in an&#8290; age of unyielding <a class=\"glossaryLink\"  aria-describedby=\"tt\"  data-cmtooltip=\"cmtt_4ab868bd8c3416c0a3eec97c6c6d6744\"  href=\"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/glossary\/connectivity\/\"  target=\"_blank\"  data-mobile-support=\"0\"  data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]' tabindex='0' role='link'>connectivity<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1067 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/728x282-border.png\" alt=\"Click To Compare Broadband Deals\" width=\"728\" height=\"282\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<style>\r\n.lwrp.link-whisper-related-posts{\r\n            \r\n            margin-top: 40px;\nmargin-bottom: 30px;\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-title{\r\n            \r\n            \r\n        }.lwrp .lwrp-description{\r\n            \r\n            \r\n\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-container{\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-multi-container{\r\n            display: flex;\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-double{\r\n            width: 48%;\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-triple{\r\n            width: 32%;\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-row-container{\r\n            display: flex;\r\n            justify-content: space-between;\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-row-container .lwrp-list-item{\r\n            width: calc(33% - 20px);\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-item:not(.lwrp-no-posts-message-item){\r\n            \r\n            \r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-item img{\r\n            max-width: 100%;\r\n            height: auto;\r\n            object-fit: cover;\r\n            aspect-ratio: 1 \/ 1;\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-item.lwrp-empty-list-item{\r\n            background: initial !important;\r\n        }\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-item .lwrp-list-link .lwrp-list-link-title-text,\r\n        .lwrp .lwrp-list-item .lwrp-list-no-posts-message{\r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n            \r\n        }@media screen and (max-width: 480px) {\r\n            .lwrp.link-whisper-related-posts{\r\n                \r\n                \r\n            }\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-title{\r\n                \r\n                \r\n            }.lwrp .lwrp-description{\r\n                \r\n                \r\n            }\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-list-multi-container{\r\n                flex-direction: column;\r\n            }\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-list-multi-container ul.lwrp-list{\r\n                margin-top: 0px;\r\n                margin-bottom: 0px;\r\n                padding-top: 0px;\r\n                padding-bottom: 0px;\r\n            }\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-list-double,\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-list-triple{\r\n                width: 100%;\r\n            }\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-list-row-container{\r\n                justify-content: initial;\r\n                flex-direction: column;\r\n            }\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-list-row-container .lwrp-list-item{\r\n                width: 100%;\r\n            }\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-list-item:not(.lwrp-no-posts-message-item){\r\n                \r\n                \r\n            }\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-list-item .lwrp-list-link .lwrp-list-link-title-text,\r\n            .lwrp .lwrp-list-item .lwrp-list-no-posts-message{\r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n                \r\n            };\r\n        }<\/style>\r\n<div id=\"link-whisper-related-posts-widget\" class=\"link-whisper-related-posts lwrp\">\r\n            <h3 class=\"lwrp-title\">Related Posts<\/h3>    \r\n        <div class=\"lwrp-list-container\">\r\n                                            <div class=\"lwrp-list-multi-container\">\r\n                    <ul class=\"lwrp-list lwrp-list-double lwrp-list-left\">\r\n                        <li class=\"lwrp-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/news\/childrens-commissioner-calls-vpn-sign-ups-age-verified\/\" class=\"lwrp-list-link\"><span class=\"lwrp-list-link-title-text\">Children\u2019s Commissioner calls for VPN sign-ups to be age verified<\/span><\/a><\/li>                    <\/ul>\r\n                    <ul class=\"lwrp-list lwrp-list-double lwrp-list-right\">\r\n                                            <\/ul>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Online Safety Act &#8211; VPNs \u2062Booming! Safety, Not So Much The recent implementation of \u200dthe Online Safety\u2063 Act has led\u2062 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5458,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[252,4839,302,1341,1704,3449,249,4841,2199,242,1340,738,245,4840,4838],"misspellings":[],"class_list":["post-7766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-cybersecurity","tag-cybersecurity-laws","tag-data-protection","tag-digital-rights","tag-digital-security","tag-internet-regulations","tag-internet-safety","tag-online-anonymity","tag-online-privacy","tag-online-safety-act","tag-privacy","tag-technology-trends","tag-user-safety","tag-virtual-private-networks","tag-vpns"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7766","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7766"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7766\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7766"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7766"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7766"},{"taxonomy":"misspellings","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comparebroadbandpackages.co.uk\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/misspellings?post=7766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}