12 / 09 / 2026
5 Minute Read

Should you use a VPN while surfing on escorts websites?

 

What prompted me to write this article is the drop in the number of visitors to The Velvet Rooms (TVR) from Switzerland, even though our escort site is based in German-speaking Switzerland and caters primarily (though not exclusively, of course!) to Swiss clients. Just two years ago, the majority of visitors accessing the site came from Switzerland. Now, however, TVR sees more traffic from the United States and France. All this makes me wonder what could be causing this shift. One topic that has been widely discussed for about two years now is the use of VPNs. Are more and more Swiss clients using them to visit adult sites? And if so, is using a VPN for this purpose necessary or even advisable? I aim to answer these questions in this article.

 

What is a VPN?

The main advantage I see in using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is that it hides your browsing activity from your Internet Service Provider and anyone monitoring the local network. Your Internet Service Provider and the sites you visit see only encrypted traffic heading to the VPN server, rather than the actual sites you are visiting. So, for those who value the privacy of their online viewing habits, I fully understand why using a VPN to reduce location-based tracking (and targeted advertising) has become a daily routine. But is it really necessary?

 

Is using a VPN really necessary?

To answer this question properly, I think we first need to ask why VPNs have recently become such a hot topic. Why is there so much talk about them? What sparked such interest in this tool across Europe?

Well, the most plausible explanation lies in the correlation between the sharp rise in VPN usage and the rollout of online age verification in Europe. As European Union (EU) countries implement stricter age checks for social media and restricted-access websites, VPN adoption has skyrocketed, with users seeking to bypass these new restrictions.

In the UK, for instance, VPN usage surged dramatically following the July 2025 implementation of age verification requirements under the Online Safety Act. On the very first day, usage rates jumped 1,327% above the average for the preceding 28 days, climbing to 1,987% in the days that followed. Monthly VPN downloads topped the 2-million mark and remained high for several months.

In Italy, following the introduction of new user identity verification rules between October and November 2025, VPN usage rose by approximately 59%, remaining about 40% higher in the subsequent weeks than it had been prior to the regulation.

France mandates age verification for adult content platforms, and similar trends have been observed there. Reports indicate that following the introduction of new age-verification rules for pornographic sites, VPN downloads surged; to the point where half of the most popular free apps on app stores were VPN services.

However, online data suggests that Switzerland is not yet as keen on VPNs as its EU neighbors. Indeed, as of late 2026, there is no mandatory age verification in Switzerland for accessing websites (such as those like TVR offering adult content). While the EU’s Digital Services Act mandates such measures within the European Union, it does not apply to Switzerland. Nevertheless, the country is currently in a phase of deliberation and planning. The Federal Council has recommended that Parliament examine how to implement age verification for online pornography, specifically considering the use of the new state-backed electronic identity (E-ID) as a privacy-friendly tool. However, this measure has not yet been enacted into law. Once age verification for accessing adult websites comes into effect in Switzerland, why should we expect reactions to differ from those seen in the overwhelming majority of other European countries? The result will be the same in this country where prostitution is legal: a significant rise in VPN subscriptions; the use of which (at the time of writing) is not prohibited in Europe.

As for whether using a VPN is necessary, the answer seems to depend on the context and the individual's intended use. If an increasing number of countries make it difficult to access adult sites (which, it is worth noting, are among the most visited in the world) I can understand the desire to obtain a VPN. Beyond simply bypassing restrictions, some users are motivated by a desire to avoid the heightened tracking associated with online age verification (without necessarily considering the reasons for this tracking or the implications of their Internet Service Provider having access to such information).

Moreover, in many countries (including countries outside of Europe), internet service providers are legally required to retain some of this data (metadata retention laws) and may be compelled to disclose it to the authorities. Some providers also sell anonymized browsing data for advertising purposes, subject to local legislation. Thus, unless you use a VPN, the authorities in your state may already have a fairly precise idea of ​​your interests, as well as the timing, location, duration, and nature of your online content consumption.

 

VPNs: When aren't they necessary?

Believe it or not, even though I live in Switzerland, I’ve recently started using a VPN (a paid one, since free services monetize your data by logging and selling it or by inserting ads, which are often worse than using no VPN at all). I did this because I’m certain Switzerland will soon adopt regulations already in place in the EU to align with the Eurozone. So, I decided to get a head start, though I don't use my VPN excessively.

For instance, when I’m on my own private, password-protected Wi-Fi network, I find the added value of a VPN limited; unless, of course, you specifically want to hide your activity from your Internet Service Provider. When browsing, I don’t mind if websites know my region (for local news, shopping, or services); I find that turning on my VPN just slows down my internet usage (since VPNs add overhead and can reduce connection speeds, especially with free or distant servers). And naturally, I don’t use a VPN when logging into my bank account or government websites, as doing so has caused login errors for me in the past (and can even trigger fraud alerts).

 

VPNs: In a nutshell

Many of us agree on this: using a VPN to keep the content we watch or our private online searches confidential is perfectly legitimate. However, it’s important to remember that a VPN doesn’t guarantee anonymity; it simply shifts trust from your Internet Service Provider to the VPN provider. It is true that a provider who keeps activity logs can still see what you’re doing. However, if it is not located in the country where you live (or in the countries you frequently visit), you do protect yourself against the collection of information about you and your consumption habits (which could be retroactive); data that could, at some point, be used for purposes beyond your consent and over which you would have absolutely no control…

 

Janet – The Velvet Rooms

 

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