- VPN demand sky-rockets in Brazil as adult content and social media face age-gating
- New mandatory age checks became enforced on March 17
- Platforms face potential 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 force.
According to the latest Google Trends data, searches for 'VPN' in Brazil have been slowly rising since Monday.
Leading privacy provider Proton VPN confirmed a 250% increase in sign-ups from the country overnight between Monday and Tuesday.
David Peterson, General Manager at Proton VPN, told TechRadar these "surges often reflect adult users turning to VPNs due to growing concerns about their privacy and online security."
The Digital ECA (Digital Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente or Lei 15.211/2025) became enforceable on March 17. Under the rules, online service providers must verify that users are old enough to access content deemed inappropriate to minors. It includes social media, online games, and adult-only content.
The stakes for platforms are high. Non-compliance can result in services being throttled or blocked entirely, alongside massive fines of up to 10% of the company’s Brazilian revenue, capped at 50 million Brazilian reais (almost $10 million USD).
Why Brazilians are turning to VPNs
The Digital ECA establishes a strict framework for online service providers to protect children from age-inappropriate content. However, much like the debate seen in Europe and the UK, these age assurance provisions are raising concern among digital rights advocates.
Under the new rules, adult-only websites, social media platforms, and gaming services must verify that users meet the minimum age requirements — typically 18 for adult content and 16 for social media.
The law mandates "proportional, 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 stressed the importance of "implementing solutions that also uphold 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. Wary of sharing sensitive identity details with a wide range of platforms, users are increasingly looking for ways to shield their personal information.
VPN services offer a straightforward solution for enhancing online privacy. By encrypting all outgoing internet traffic, they prevent third parties from snooping on user activity.
However, it is vital to choose a secure provider. Unreliable or "scam" VPN applications often pose a greater risk to your data than the platforms you are trying to avoid.
For users looking to protect their data in Brazil, TechRadar maintains a comprehensive guide to the best VPN services available now. For those on a budget, our experts have also ranked the best free VPNs, with Proton VPN and PrivadoVPN currently leading the market for security and reliability.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone using a VPN service to break the law or conduct illegal activities. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
