- VPN demand soars in Brazil as adult content and social media face age restriction
- The new mandatory age checks came into force on March 17
- Platforms face possible shutdowns and huge fines for non-compliance.
Brazilians are flocking to VPN services as the country’s sweeping new mandatory age verification rules officially come into effect.
According to the latest data from Google Trends, searches for ‘VPN’ in Brazil have been slowly increasing since Monday.
Leading privacy provider Proton VPN confirmed a 250% increase in registrations from the country overnight from Monday to Tuesday.
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David Peterson, CEO of Proton VPN, told TechRadar that these “increases often reflect adult users turning to VPNs due to growing concerns about their online privacy and security.”
The Digital ECA (Digital Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente or Lei 15.211/2025) came into force on March 17. Under the rules, online service providers must verify that users are old enough to access content considered inappropriate for minors. Includes social media, online games and adult-only content.
There is a lot at stake for the platforms. Failure to comply can result in throttling or outright blocking of services, along with massive fines of up to 10% of the company’s Brazilian revenue, capped at 50 million Brazilian reais (almost $10 million).
Why Brazilians are turning to VPNs
The ECA Digital establishes a strict framework for online service providers to protect children from age-inappropriate content. However, like the debate seen in Europe and the United Kingdom, these age guarantee provisions are raising concerns among digital rights advocates.
Under the new rules, adult-only websites, social media platforms and gaming services must verify that users meet minimum age requirements: generally 18 years old for adult content and 16 years old for social networks.
The law requires “proportionate, auditable and technically secure” verification, which in practice requires all users to submit identity data or biometric scans to prove their age.
Proton VPN’s David Peterson told TechRadar that while the company “fully supports” efforts to protect young people from harmful material, he also emphasized the importance of “implementing solutions that also respect user privacy and security.”
Proton VPN confirmed a 250% increase in downloads from the country
Brazil’s new law explicitly states that age verification methods (which may include scanning national IDs or collecting biometric data) must preserve user privacy through strict data minimization rules.
However, many Brazilians remain unconvinced. Afraid of sharing sensitive identity details with a wide range of platforms, users are increasingly looking for ways to protect their personal information.
VPN services offer a simple solution to improve online privacy. By encrypting all outgoing Internet traffic, they prevent third parties from spying on user activity.
However, it is vital to choose a safe provider. Untrustworthy or “rogue” VPN apps often pose a greater risk to your data than the platforms you try to avoid.
For users looking to protect their data in Brazil, TechRadar maintains a comprehensive guide to the best VPN services currently available. For those on a budget, our experts have also ranked the best free VPNs, with Proton VPN and PrivadoVPN currently leading the market in security and reliability.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Access a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protect your online security and strengthen your online privacy when you are abroad. We do not support or condone using a VPN service to break the law or conduct illegal activities. Future Publishing does not endorse or approve the consumption of paid pirated content.
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