While the internet has proven to be quite useful when it comes to international trade, business, correspondence, and education, we all know what the net’s primary purpose is. As the old song goes: ‘’the internet is for porn”. With this in mind, the UK porn ban has come as an unwelcome surprise for all Brits, as well as people currently living and working in the constitutive Kingdoms and Duchies.
The ban focuses porn ranging from some quite kinky stuff, to very vanilla content. Aside from the prohibition of all kinds of adult themes and materials, there is also a significant privacy concern. For those websites that are allowed, the UK legislators require the social security number to be provided.
As this type of sharing is out of the question, you will need a VPN to access blocked websites from a different country and bypass the ban. Thankfully, premium providers like Le VPN have servers as close as France and the Netherlands. For users in England, this will make ping unnoticeable and would protect their online privacy and internet security.
Why Is the UK Porn Ban Happening?
Why the government does what it does is always a big question. For some reason, people believe that they have the right to command others with what they see and what they do.
Not Knowing How the Internet Works
We should never assign to malice what we can ascribe to stupidity. There are, quite certainly, some MPs that believe that this ban and privacy intrusion will protect children from viewing adult content. They believe that introducing AGEID and similar rules will have no downsides and only the benefits. Most of the older UK government representatives don’t even know what is a VPN, and there is no point in telling them now.
This process comes under the old government mantra: ‘’If you aren’t doing anything wrong, you have nothing to fear”. It is strange how they don’t hold this same standard when it comes to government transparency?
Our Shadows Will Be Walking through Vienna
The second probable reason for trying to control the internet is fear. An open internet with an open discussion equally scares both progressive and conservative MPs. The first are afraid of people using online platforms to attack specific groups or propagate hate speech. On the other side, conservatives fear that they will use it to spread vulgar and anti-cultural materials.
This fear has ridiculous, and sometimes even funny consequences, such as sentencing a Scotsman from pranking his girlfriend by teaching her Pug to do the Nazi salute.
The sad thing is that both of these fears are justified. But, censorship is not the correct way to combat these issues. Open and constructive discussion is what brings people together, not authoritative governments.
Finally, there will always be those just going after your data. We have seen too much corruption in every government in the world to believe that everyone is squeaky clean. The UK government is no different. There is someone, somewhere, who is planning to profit from this whole ordeal.
What are the New Rules?
There are two sets of rules specific for UK internet users that are looking for adult material.
The first is the production ban. This rule forbids adult content creators from filming any type of rough sexual encounters. And by rough, they mean even widespread things like spanking. So, if you pick up a girl in the UK, take her home, and she wants you to film her being spanked – run. She might be with the police, and those handcuffs might not be just for fun.
The second is the requirement for access. This is the main problem when it comes to the UK porn ban, as it will force users to compromise their privacy and internet security in exchange for access.
The rules require for the adult website to have a soft, non-sexual, landing page where UK users will need to enter their data to go forward. The data provided will be the complete contents, including the ID number of other documents, such as the driver’s license, phone bill, or personal ID card.
Should the UK Users be Upset?
While the rule will have precisely zero impact on any UK internet user that is at least slightly tech-savvy, there are a lot of reasons to be upset.
Primarily, the government should not be allowed to slip into tyranny. Imposing on people’s privacy and telling its citizens what they can and can’t do, for as long they are not harming anyone else. The first cries are always about ‘’the children’’ and other categories that everybody wants to protect. The story ends quite badly.
Not to break Godwin’s law, but this road ends with the state protecting itself from dirty peoples and even dirtier ideas, such as civil liberties.
Additionally, the state is forcing people to breach their privacy. We all know which type of pornography websites there are, and we don’t really want those people to have our name, home address, and social security number.
The first rule of cybersecurity is not to give your private information to shady websites. And, while we all respect the work porn sites are doing, we will not provide Jon from Fake Taxi our home address just to pass a porn block. With all due respect, he is as shady as they get.
What Will Happen in the UK?
Once the UK porn ban comes into effect in about six months, all users will be presented with a choice. Those not interested in protecting their privacy and data security will give their data to porn sites and the government. Others will be using a VPN, and there will be a lot more Frenchmen apparently accessing pornographic websites. With premium VPN providers, such as Le VPN, I can set my IP location to any of their servers, which number more than 120 at the moment.
These servers are positioned globally, and you will be able to connect to anyone of them. But, connecting to the closest server in a country that doesn’t have ridiculous laws is the best way to go. Closest countries have the lowest ping. For UK citizens wanting to circumvent the age verification auto-doxxing process, France and Ireland are the best choices.
Creeping of the Nanny State
The derogatory term for an authoritarian government might sound funny for people from outside the UK, but it is something the Brits have been fighting against for decades.
This is not a genuinely tyrannical government that aims to oppress the people on the bottom and prop up those on the top. The nanny state is just a set of policies interfering with personal choice without a specific reason or goal. A nanny state is a government that wants its citizens to ‘’act properly” and to prescribe all types of rules concerning even the most private of domains.
With British society relying heavily on class, this is a mode of government oppression ever-present in UK politics.
Road to Censorship
Aside from the social tendencies of the UK government that have been around since Victorian times, there is also the global push towards censorship. Most governments around the world have proposed some type of restrictions on what may or may not be seen or shown.
Additionally, not all countries have these liberties inscribed in their constitution. This means that they are free to do whatever they want, for whichever reason has 51% approval at that moment.
The only exception in this rule is the EU, where all member states must agree on a censorship level. This balance makes the EU quite free in this regard, not because it is against censorship, but because its administration can’t come to an accord.
Cultural Pressures
It is a great misconception that multiculturalism goes hand in hand with liberalism. The truth is that people from all backgrounds might be either traditionalists and authoritarians, or libertarians.
This is why there are cultural pressures from both British conservatives and people who immigrated to the UK. They all want to subdue any exposure UK internet users might have towards sexuality.
Fear of the Internet
While this reason is becoming less relevant every year, it is still a factor when it comes to state administrations.
Internet is unpredictable, and it is always changing. Both are not welcomed features for anyone trying to rule. And thus, there is a lot of fear against the unknown when it comes to the web.
Generally speaking, the same people you are trying to defend against when using a VPN are haunting the imagination of MPs. But, while you are afraid for your data and your privacy, they are scared for their position.
Bypassing the Ban
If you are reading this and don’t have the slightest idea how to bypass this ban, congratulations of finding a printed copy of a web page under the rock you were living so far. The technology for avoiding the UK porn ban has been available for years and is now more affordable than ever.
As a premium provider, Le VPN offers a virtual private network that is fast, stable, and protected. There is now little difference in utility between your VPN connection and the one provided by your ISP.
Also, current premium VPN accounts are not used only to mask your IP address and protect your private data. With a VPN, you can do all kinds of things, from connecting to British channels outside of the UK, or to watching an NBA live stream for free.
Using a VPN
Using a VPN will depend on the quality of the app. In the case of Le VPN, there is a simple app with a one-tap connection. Here you can select the server and enable the connection in just one click, or tap if you are using the mobile app.
By using a good VPN, this law becomes virtually mute, as you will be able to connect to any website you like without issues.
The same way people have been using VPNs in China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran for years because of censorship, UK citizens will start using it now.
Dummy Debit Cards
While the issue with the UK ban will be easily surpassed, there is a point to be made about dummy payment systems.
If you want to protect your identity when purchasing anything online, you can make a dummy credit card or a dummy debit card over the internet. Additionally, using gift cards is also a good idea, provided that you are not leaving your personal data in the store when making them.
Using the TOR Browser
While the TOR browser is not the best tool for absolute safety on its own but is quite useful when used together with a VPN. Aside from the proxy network, you can also choose to create an identity.
This ‘’new person’’ feature can come in quite handy when accessing places where you need to leave in some data, as you can for a whole fake persona that looks believable to the software.
The only downside of this is that you might accidentally send adds to someone else that lives on the address you have randomly generated. But, hopefully, they are also using a VPN so they will not be annoyed.
Being Vigilant
With all the tools and software available, people often forget that the main defense from any harm in this world is your brain. Stay vigilant and focused, and you will always be one step ahead from any group.
Both criminals and governments will always try to exploit cracks in your personal organization, so you should keep those cracks to a minimum.
Protecting Children Online
You don’t want your young children to watch porn. While the stuff is surely entertaining, it can be problematic for adolescents as they have no concept of the real thing.
Similar to watching action movies, a kid will see porn and imagine that that is how it really goes down. This way, they become desensitized and will have issues forming good relationships once they are older. There is little chance of them being bitten by a radioactive spider. But, having sex is quite normal for most people, and your kids will hopefully experience it when they are ready.
Finally, you want your children to develop properly. This will never be done with restrictions and sanctions because you want to teach them about civil rights as well. But, it can be done easily with a bit of time and honesty.
Parenting vs. Technology
Even if you have kids that are too young to use the internet right now, you can bet that they will be better at it than you are. By using apps and programs, even eight-year-olds can now enable a VPN and download apps.
Using technology will never be a good idea if you want to control your kids. It will teach them how to bypass that technology, which is not bad on its own, but it will not give you any authority as a parent.
Being Honest
The biggest casualty of mass media and unrestricted access to the internet is honesty. From photoshopped images on Instagram to dishonest views on Twitter, to fake news on Facebook, honesty is hard to find.
This is why you should practice honesty inside the home. Don’t be afraid to discuss sexuality and pornography with your adolescent children. Tell them that porn has as much to do with sex as Marvel movies have to do with global security.
Giving Good Information
Best way to combat your children getting bad information is giving them good information. And, the best way to do this is to teach them how to find and judge any info that they get.
Dedicating time to parenting is vital, and you should spend that time teaching your kids about anything they are interested about. No judgment and no discrimination, we were all kids once, and we all had stupid questions we posed to our parents.
Your kid will appreciate it.
Learning to Let Go
There will come a time when you will need to let go of control and to give your child the space to experience both life and the internet on their own. This will be a different age depending on the kid, but they will be a teenager.
The only thing you can hope for is that you have given good information and prepared your child to process it correctly. Once they reach the age where they need autonomy, there is nothing to do but to start letting go.
Practice Cybersecurity and Cyber Hygiene
Everyone in your family should know how to practice cybersecurity and cyber hygiene. While the UK porn ban might be an issue now, who knows what will be in the future?
The best way to combat any issue that jeopardizes your person or your property, including your private data, is to know the protocols and tools with which you will protect yourself. You should know in advance that any website that asks you to verify your age with an ID is not your friend.
Conclusion
The internet was, is, and will be used for watching porn. The UK porn ban cannot stop that. But, you should always be careful with pornography online, as they are known with misplacing private information.
Thankfully, by using a premium VPN such as Le VPN, you can mask your IP, your identity, and access any content in the whole world.
Although, in this case, moderation is advised.
HOLIDAY SPECIAL
First 3 years for $2.22/mo
NO LOGS
100+ LOCATIONS
P2P ALLOWED
Easy To Use
30-Day Money Back
Friendly Support
Bitcoin Accepted
Ultra High Speeds
Written by Vuk Mujović @VukMujovic
Vuk Mujović is the founder of MacTíre Consulting, an analyst, data management expert, and a long-term writer on all things business & tech. He authored blogs, articles, and opinion pieces aimed to help both companies and individuals achieve growth without compromising their security. Vuk is a regular guest author to Le VPN Blog since January 2018, where he gives his expert opinion on the topics related to cybersecurity, privacy, online freedom, and personal data protection. He also often shares his tips and best practices in relation to internet security and digital safety of private individuals and small businesses, including some additional applications of using a VPN service.