Australians have begun widely installing Virtual Private Network (VPN) applications on their phones and computers after the government introduced stricter rules targeting websites that host adult content.
On Monday, March 9, 2026, Aylo, the company that owns several major adult entertainment websites, announced it had suspended its services in Australia. The move is aimed at avoiding heavy fines while the company works to comply with new rules requiring strict age verification for users.
Under the new Australian regulations, adult websites must ensure that users are at least 18 years old before accessing their content.
Before Aylo implemented the suspension, many Australians rushed to install VPN technology, which allows internet users to bypass geographic restrictions and access content that may be blocked in their country.
According to Reuters, at least three VPN applications quickly ranked among the top 15 most downloaded apps in Australia following the announcement.
Australia’s new law states that platforms failing to prevent minors from accessing pornographic content could face fines of up to $34.5 million.