The Great Firewall of London – Safety or Just Snooping Dressed Up?

The UK’s Online Safety Act 2023 arrived with the kind of PR usually reserved for royal weddings: it’s here to make the internet “safer” for the kids. Critics say it may just as easily usher in a new era of centralised digital control, and judging by the rush to VPNs, plenty of people aren’t taking chances.

What the Law Actually Does

Signed off in October 2023 and coming into force in July 2025, the Act forces platforms to block under-18s from harmful content, anything from porn and self-harm to disordered eating. Ofcom can fine platforms £18 million or 10% of global turnover and even block sites entirely.

One of the most controversial provisions is the requirement to scan encrypted messages for child abuse material. Security experts argue this is technically impossible without breaking encryption, a bit like trying to inspect everyone’s luggage without opening it.

From Safety Net to Dragnet?

Digital rights groups have warned of overreach. The Open Rights Group calls it a “censor’s charter.” Article 19 says it’s incoherent and dangerous to free expression. Even Wikimedia fears it could turn Wikipedia into a heavily monitored, state-sanctioned platform.

On encryption, Apple has warned it’s a “serious threat” to secure communications. Ciaran Martin, the UK’s former cyber chief, labelled the scanning requirement “magical thinking.” That’s polite policy-speak for “it won’t work the way you think it will.”

VPN Sales Go Brrr

Enforcement day saw VPN sign-ups spike. Proton VPN reported a 1,400% increase, and app-store rankings suggest plenty of others saw similar surges.

VPNs remain legal, for now, but the government says it will “monitor closely”. Privacy advocates point out that this phrasing has often been a prelude to more restrictive measures.

After the Apple Backdoor Blunder

Some observers see a pattern. Last year’s failed push for an Apple backdoor drew heavy criticism from privacy experts. Instead of pursuing collaborative, privacy-friendly solutions, the government opted for another sweeping law with significant unintended consequences.

Final Thought

On paper, the Online Safety Act is about protection. In practice, it looks to many like a step toward a Great Firewall of London, one that might not significantly reduce harmful content but could normalise state-approved monitoring.

The real question is whether this was always meant to be the endgame, or simply a first step toward a “justified” VPN ban in the name of social protection. If that sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve seen versions of this playbook elsewhere.