[azalemeth]

I'm not surprised by this move – the UK's conservative government is very fond of trying to control the internet, and since the "Snooper's Charter" went live in 2016, but apparently half the young population of the UK know about VPNs and 25% tor specifically for getting around blocks on pornography [1] – so clearly, these commercial complaints are doomed to fail.

I personally have never used Apple's private relay, but I have encrypted all my traffic since Snooper's Charter. The fact that the industry bodies are complaining about it -- effectively complaining that they can't spy and snoop on their users, often for commercial gain -- makes me think it is effective.

[1] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/poi3.250

[mhh__]

I'd amazed if 25% of teenagers actually used Tor.

My generation is the tail end of people who actually grew up using computers versus the "mobile"-ized internet for everything, and I was basically the "umm can you darkweb for me pretty please" guy for all my friends. Easy profit. Arbitrage their laziness for my ability to use a computer.

[howinteresting]

Tor is super easy to use on phones these days. On Android you can just install the Tor Browser app.

[mhh__]

You also have to be able to work out how to use certain types of encryption or so I've heard.

[crtasm]

No, you can just start using it - it's based on the Firefox app.

[giantrobot]

You are aware VPNs are not just Tor right? Commercial VPNs have been in the spotlight for at least a decade as a way to spoof streaming and gaming services' regional lockouts. I have no trouble believing 25% of teenagers at least know about VPNs.

[mhh__]

The comment says "and 25% tor specifically"

[giantrobot]

Which implies that 25% know about Tor and traditional VPNs. So even when a teen isn't necessarily going to use Tor they know that other VPNs exist to get around blocks.