- Italy will require age verification on adult websites starting November 12.
- The system uses a “double anonymity” model for privacy protection.
- Around fifty websites are affected, with more expected later.
- Searches for VPNs have surged as users look for ways around the new rule.
Italy is preparing to roll out a mandatory age verification system for adult websites, joining the United Kingdom and France in tightening access to online adult content.
The country’s communications authority, AGCOM, announced that the measure will officially come into force on November 12. The new rule aims to shield minors from inappropriate material while protecting users’ personal information through a privacy-focused process.
The move follows months of discussion across Europe about how to balance online safety and digital privacy. In Italy’s case, officials claim that the new system achieves both by introducing a technical model that keeps the user’s identity hidden from websites while still confirming that they are legally an adult.
How The Italian System Works
Italy’s approach to age verification takes inspiration from the European Platform of Regulatory Authorities, which describes it as one of the most privacy-conscious systems developed so far.
The process involves what regulators are calling a “double anonymity” feature. When a user tries to visit an adult site, a certified third party checks their age and confirms whether they are over 18.
Once verified, the third party generates a secure token that is passed to the website. The token confirms eligibility without revealing any personal information about the user.
This setup means that the verification company never learns which site the person is trying to access, and the website never learns who the person actually is.
Both ends of the process are effectively blind to each other, which AGCOM says guarantees strong privacy protections.
However, some experts warn that even with these safeguards, any centralized verification system still represents a valuable target for hackers and cybercriminals.
Unlike some previous models used abroad, users in Italy will need to complete the verification process each time they visit a site.
The rule is meant to prevent persistent tracking, but it also means more interactions with the verification service, which could potentially increase exposure to technical or data security risks over time.
Which Websites Will Be Affected
When the measure comes into force, it will initially apply to around fifty adult websites that AGCOM has already listed. Officials expect that number to rise as enforcement expands and more online platforms are reviewed.
Over time, regulators may also decide to broaden the system’s reach beyond adult content. The European Platform of Regulatory Authorities has suggested that future updates could extend to other categories of material deemed unsuitable for minors.
The list of covered sites includes major international platforms, as well as smaller regional ones that distribute adult media in Italy. Any company failing to comply could face content blocks ordered by the regulator.
That means access to non-compliant websites may be restricted for Italian users until proper verification measures are implemented.
Rising Interest In VPNs And Workarounds
Even before the law takes effect, it appears that many Italians are already searching for ways around it.
Google search trends show a sharp increase in interest for VPN applications, which allow users to mask their online location and access restricted websites. In the week following AGCOM’s announcement, searches for VPNs jumped dramatically, while searches for “November 12” saw a 140 percent rise.
The pattern mirrors what happened in other countries after introducing similar rules. When France launched its own age checks, VPN downloads spiked almost immediately. A comparable wave followed in the United Kingdom.
The concern among digital privacy experts is that users might turn to low-quality or unsafe VPN apps, putting their data at risk while trying to protect it.
Cybersecurity professionals recommend that those who genuinely want to protect their privacy should rely on trusted and established services, rather than free or obscure apps that may harvest user information. Despite these warnings, the surge in VPN interest shows how divided public opinion remains about age verification laws.
Balancing Safety, Privacy, And Freedom
Supporters of the Italian measure argue that age checks are long overdue. They point to increasing concerns about children’s exposure to explicit material online and the lack of effective safeguards on many platforms.
The government says the new system represents a compromise between parental protection and personal privacy.
Critics, however, worry that consolidating identity data within third-party systems could still create new vulnerabilities. Even if companies cannot see browsing behavior, they will still process sensitive data about users’ ages and authentication patterns.
Others fear the law may open the door to broader forms of online surveillance or future extensions into other areas of the internet.
The upcoming enforcement date also arrives at a time of economic pressure in Italy. Rising living costs and digital service expenses have made people more cautious about sharing personal information online.
Combined with the growing popularity of VPNs, this could create tension between users’ privacy concerns and compliance expectations.
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