Ofcom uses ‘AI technology’ on Brits trying to get around the porn age restriction ban

Ofcom has sparked privacy fears as it admits to secretly using AI-powered tools from an unnamed third party to monitor VPN usage across the UK, after new porn laws failed to block access

Brits trying to keep their porn habits private could be in for a shock. Ofcom has admitted it’s using secretive artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools to monitor VPN use across the UK, after new porn laws failed to block access.

Privacy concerns are mounting after Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, admitted to using an unnamed third-party tool to monitor VPN use in the UK. Additionally, the regulator, tasked with enforcing the Online Safety Act, has refused to reveal the identity of the platform.

Nevertheless, it has been reported to use AI to track people’s VPN activities. While Ofcom has assured that no personal information is being accessed, critics remain uneasy about the lack of transparency.

The Open Rights Group, a leading UK civil society organisation, has consequently warned that any move to restrict VPNs could seriously harm free expression and privacy in the UK. Ofcom has since told TechRadar: “We use a leading third-party provider, which is widely used in the industry, to gather information on VPN usage.

“The provider combines multiple data sources to train its models and generate usage estimates. The data we access and use in our analyses is fully aggregated at the app level, and no personally identifiable or user-level information is ever included.”

According to TechRadar, Ofcom’s answers have raised more questions than they resolved. For instance, while the regulator has confirmed it uses a third-party tool with AI capabilities to track VPN usage, it refuses to identify the vendor or provide further details.

This lack of transparency means the public cannot assess whether the data provider is reputable or potentially invasive, TechRadar argues.

Moreover, the exact methods and data sources used by the tool remain unclear, making it impossible to judge the accuracy or privacy safeguards in place.

The main concern for both the UK government and Ofcom is that VPNs can be used to avoid age verification checks required by the Online Safety Act, by allowing users to appear as if they’re browsing from countries without such restrictions. Ofcom estimates that daily VPN usage surged to 1.5 million after mandatory age checks were introduced on adult sites.

However, the lack of transparency around how this figure was calculated, possibly using the same secretive monitoring tool, makes its accuracy uncertain, TechRadar suggests.

In addition, a rise in VPN use doesn’t automatically mean people are dodging the law, as VPNs also play a vital role in online safety, including protecting children, the website states. Ofcom has since told the Daily Star: “As part of our regular work to understand people’s internet use, Ofcom gathers information on web traffic and VPN use through a range of tools, data and research.

“This information helps us carry out our work as a regulator, and enables us to understand the effectiveness of measures and compliance across sites and apps. We’re not able to disclose further provider or method details. We use a third-party provider that is widely used in the industry, to gather information on VPN usage.

“The provider combines multiple data sources to estimate VPN usage, and no personally identifiable information is ever included in the data we collect. Next year, we will publish a statutory report on the use of age assurance by regulated services to comply with their duties under the OSA, including looking at its effectiveness.

“We will do further work to consider technical evidence, testing methodologies, industry standards and best practices which will feed into this report. VPNs are lawful services which can be marketed and used by people in the UK.

“However, parents in the UK should be aware that if their children are using a VPN, they may not benefit from the protections of the Online Safety Act.”

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