Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

People are looking up VPNs after the House voted away internet privacy rules

facebook twitter enough revenge porn congress
Image used with permission by copyright holder
A few days removed from a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives on internet privacy, there has been a notable boost in search queries for virtual private networks, or VPNs.

Congress voted on Tuesday to repeal FCC internet privacy rules that would have prevented internet service providers (ISPs) from selling customer data without a clear opt-in. The rule change is a cause for concern for ISP customers who will now potentially see their data sold on to third parties, which has led to a spike in searches online for privacy tools like VPNs.

Torrent Freak pulled Google Trends data from 2012 to 2017. While there are ups and downs month to month, the overall trajectory is on the up, especially after the Snowden leaks. But there has also been a noticeable uptick in March of this year.

We looked at some of the data available from the last seven days. You’ll see that there is an obvious leap on March 29, the day after the vote, and the next day also.

vpn
Image used with permission by copyright holder

NordVPN told Digital Trends that it has seen an 86-percent increase in inquiries from American users this week. A spokesperson for HideMyAss, another VPN provider, which is owned by Avast, said it too has seen a spike in traffic to its site.

“Such spikes in user interest in VPNs are not unusual,” said NordVPN CMO, Marty P. Kamden. The VPN provider saw similar upticks after the passing of the U.K.’s Snoopers Charter for instance and the recent CIA/WikiLeaks revelations.

“We are worried about the global tendency to invade internet users’ privacy, and we are glad we can offer a reliable tool that helps people keep their information private,” he said.

Many VPN providers were opposed to the rules being changed and many campaigned against it. One VPN, Private Internet Access, even took out a full-page ad in the New York Times to name and shame the senators that first voted for the repeal last week. However VPN providers may stand to gain business from this controversial rule change.

Google queries are one thing, though, as they only show us that there is interest in VPNs at a particular moment. Time will tell if this is just a burst of interest or if it will lead to a market shift in response to this legislative move.

Jonathan Keane
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jonathan is a freelance technology journalist living in Dublin, Ireland. He's previously written for publications and sites…
Best Meta Quest 3 deals: Get Asgard Wrath 2 for free and more
A product shot of the Meta Quest 3 shown in dramatic lighting over a gradient background.

The Meta Quest 3 is on its way to claim its spot among the best VR headsets when it launches on Oct. 10. However, you can already start taking advantage of Meta Quest 3 deals ahead of the device's release. We've spotted the top offers for the VR headset right now, and it's highly recommended that you take advantage of them before they get sold out.
Today's best Meta Quest 3 deals
Meta Quest 3 (128GB) -- $500 with Asgard's Wrath II

If you buy the 128GB model of the Meta Quest 3 for its sticker price of $500 from Best Buy, you'll also get a copy of Asgard's Wrath II. In this sequel to one of the most critically acclaimed VR games, you'll be battling gods and monsters in an epic action RPG using unique weapons and different combat styles. The VR headset comes with a pair of Touch Plus controllers with wrist straps.

Read more
Best Surface Laptop and Surface Pro deals: Prices from just $500
Microsoft Surface Go 3 sitting on table.

While there's no shortage of laptop deals in the market right now, students and professionals who want touchscreen functionality should check out the available Surface Laptop and Surface Pro deals. Microsoft's lineup of mobile devices has steadily increased in popularity because of their versatility and performance, so there's always high demand for discounts. If you want to take advantage of any of the offers that we've gathered here, you should do so quickly as the bargains may end sooner than you expect.
Microsoft Surface Go 3 -- $500, was $550

Functioning as a 2-in-1 laptop that can switch between tablet mode and laptop mode, the Microsoft Surface Go 3 won't have trouble dealing with basic tasks as it's equipped with the Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y processor and 8GB of RAM. The 10.5-inch touchscreen with 1920 x 1080 resolution is bright and colorful, and its 128GB SSD is more than enough for your documents. The Microsoft Surface Go 3 ships with Windows 11 Home in Mode, so you can start using it as soon as you unbox it. The device also promises up to 11 hours of battery life before requiring a recharge.

Read more
Best Apple Studio Display deals: Up to 16% off the 5K monitor
Apple Mac Studio and Studio Display.

Graphic designers and creative professionals who are in the market for monitor deals should consider going for the Apple Studio Display, especially since you can now enjoy discounts on the premium screen. We've rounded up the best Apple Studio Display deals that are currently available right here so you can get the monitor at up to 16% off, but you'll have to proceed with your purchase as soon as possible because we're not sure when these offers will expire.
Today's best Apple Studio Display deals

Apple Studio Display (Standard Glass) --

Read more