The Italian regulator AGCOM has announced that from 12 November 2025, adult websites will be required to implement mandatory age checks. 

Here’s what the system involves:

• A certified third-party verifies the user’s age without revealing personal data to the website. 

• The website only receives a token confirming age - not identity. 

• It starts with an initial list of around 50 sites, but this may expand. 

While the goal of protecting minors is admirable, many users and privacy experts have voiced concerns. Some key issues:

• The centralisation of verification data creates a tempting target for hackers. 

• Every visit could require a fresh verification step, reducing convenience. 

• Analytics already point to a surge in searches for VPNs in Italy, signalling growing awareness of privacy and access concerns. 

Why this matters for internet users in Italy - and beyond

If you're browsing from Italy (or even elsewhere in Europe), this update has broader implications for your digital privacy. Here's why:

• The age-check system may signal the start of wider content regulation, not limited to adult sites alone. 

• Even if you’re not visiting adult websites, the increase in regulation raises questions about how your data is managed online.

• Using browser or device-based solutions (e.g., VPNs) is becoming more important as regulatory complexity grows.

How Octohide VPN helps you stay secure and in control

At Octohide VPN we believe that privacy online should be simple, transparent and truly yours. Here are some advantages you get:

• No-logs policy: We won’t record your browsing history - so you remain anonymous.

• Unlimited bandwidth - even on the free tier: Unlike many competitors, the free version doesn’t cap your usage.

• Premium-location servers: Free servers available in Singapore, Netherlands, Germany, and more.

• Exportable configuration files: Use the app on routers, PCs and other devices that support custom VPN configs.

• Pause-function: You can pause your VPN connection for up to 24 hours while keeping the same IP address, ideal for gamers or streamers who want flexibility.

• Audited by MASA: Independent audit demonstrates our commitment to mobile security.

What Italian users should do right now

1. Review your current tools — Are you comfortable with what your ISP or websites might log about you?

2. Install a trustworthy VPN like Octohide VPN, ideally before the new age-check system becomes more intrusive.

3. Stay informed about regulatory changes — today it’s age verification, tomorrow it could be broader oversight.

4. Try the free version first — with unlimited bandwidth and premium servers, you can test risk-free what private browsing should feel like.

Final thoughts

The upcoming rollout of age checks in Italy is a timely reminder that online privacy is not guaranteed—even in well-regulated countries. While protecting minors online is important, it must be matched by tools that empower users, preserve anonymity, and give you control over your data.

With Octohide VPN you’re choosing a solution that puts your privacy first, offers real-world features, and is built to adapt as the digital-law landscape evolves.

Stay safe, stay private—and keep control of your online experience.