Following the withdrawal of Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube from the French market, VPN usage has skyrocketed. Providers like Proton VPN and NordVPN report historic increases in sign-ups, a direct result of the standoff between the Aylo group and the French government.
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Massive Blockade, Immediate Reaction
On Wednesday, June 4, French internet users were met with a black screen where they once accessed Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube. The parent company, Aylo, had blocked access to its sites from France in protest against the age verification requirement enforced by the SREN law, which we’ve discussed before. No sooner had the measure been implemented than the bypass tools kicked in. Within just thirty minutes, Proton VPN recorded a 1000% increase in its French sign-ups. This surge was likened to the spike observed during TikTok’s blockage in the United States.
VPNs: The Great Digital Escape
As expected, the use of VPNs, which simulate a connection from abroad, has exploded. NordVPN, another major player in the sector, announced a 170% increase in its usage in France. The company noted that its services require a credit card, thus are less accessible to minors, addressing concerns about the potential circumvention of the law. For adult users, the blockage seems to have massively triggered the shift towards these tools, already popular for accessing geo-blocked content, particularly in the realm of sports streaming (whether legal or not).
Standoff Over Minor Protection
The government makes no secret of its goal: to compel adult platforms to verify the age of their visitors. Clara Chappaz, the Digital Affairs Minister, stands firm: “They’ll come back the day they’re finally ready to comply with our rules. Until then, good riddance.” For Aylo, this requirement infringes on privacy without ensuring better protection of minors. Now a message displayed in place of videos reads: “Freedom does not have an off button.”
Easy Bypass, Difficult Regulation
VPNs allow one-click access to sites via a foreign IP address. Its publishers note similar spikes “wherever digital freedoms are threatened.” This blockade has not hindered access, but rather shifted the traffic. As a result, the ban has bolstered the use of circumvention tools without truly addressing the core issue of protecting minors, while reigniting the debate over internet censorship and regulation.
What’s a VPN Good For?
A VPN is useful for many things, like protecting your computer when you connect to a public Wi-Fi hotspot, or visiting YouPorn in recent days if you really can’t do without it, but also for simpler things, for instance, I often use my VPN to access the BBC’s streaming platform. Everyone has their own uses, but it’s always useful, and luckily, we can help you choose one by clicking here!