VPN Detection And The UK Online Safety Act
The UK Online Safety Act is a major piece of legislation designed to make the internet safer, particularly for children. It applies to any website, app, or platform that can be accessed by users in the UK. This includes services that host user-generated content, search functionality, or any adult content providers.
Even if your company is based outside the UK, the law still applies if UK users can access your platform.
One complicating factor is the widespread use of VPNs (Virtual Private Networks). These tools allow users to hide their real location and may circumvent protection and verification measures.
What the UK Online Safety Act Requires You To Do
To comply with the UK Online Safety Act, Ofcom already requires services to perform a content risk assessment, maintain proper reporting channels, redress systems, and record-keeping, including review duties.
Starting from July 25th, 2025, services must also implement "highly effective" age verification systems for adult or restricted content. Methods may include facial age estimation, digital ID services, credit card or mobile network checks, or photo ID matching.
Failure to comply can result in website blocks, fines up to £18 million or 10% of global turnover, and enforcement via Ofcom.
Where VPN Detection Comes In and Why It’s Crucial
One of the biggest challenges in complying with these new obligations is that users can easily circumvent safety systems using VPNs, proxies, or anonymizers. A VPN can make someone appear to be in a different country, outside the UK. This lets users bypass age verification processes and content filters.
While the law does not ban VPNs, it does expect you to account for them. The UK Online Safety Act uses the standard of "reasonably practicable" — that means you must show that you identified and mitigated any foreseeable risks. Relying solely on IP-based geolocation may not be considered enough. If your age verification and technical measures can be easily defeated with a VPN, your platform may be considered non-compliant, regardless of your intentions.
This is where Focsec helps. Our real-time proxy and VPN Detection API identifies users who are trying to hide their true location or identity. Whether they are using VPNs, proxies, or TOR nodes, Focsec helps you detect and respond appropriately. You can block access, flag accounts for review, or adapt your verification process in real time.
Implementing VPN Detection for the UK Online Safety Act
The law does not expect you to be perfect, but it does expect a reasonable and proactive approach to user safety.
Focsec is the ideal solution for platforms that need to comply with the UK Online Safety Act. By detecting VPNs, proxies, and other anonymizers in real time, it helps ensure that users are not bypassing your location-based controls or age verification methods.
Focsec's API can be seamlessly integrated into your platform’s login or sign-up flow to automatically check whether a user is hiding behind a VPN. When a user connects to your service, your backend sends their IP address to the Focsec API in real time. The API responds instantly with detailed IP information, including whether the IP is associated with a known VPN or anonymization service.
Integrating strong VPN detection strengthens your age checks, supports your moderation team, and helps you enforce your policies consistently. Most importantly, it shows regulators that you are taking real steps to meet your legal responsibilities.