March 3, 2026
Banned ad, boiling comments
Mullvad VPN: Banned TV Ad in the Streets of London [video]
Banned Mullvad Ad Goes Guerrilla in London — Viewers Split as Fans Beg for Old Features
TLDR: Mullvad’s UK TV ad was rejected, so they took it to London’s streets, sparking a brawl in the comments over whether the message is bold or just baffling. Amid the ad drama, a chorus of users pivoted to demand old features return—making the ban only half the controversy.
Mullvad, a privacy app (think: an online disguise for your internet life), says its TV ad was rejected in the UK—so they rolled it out on the streets instead. And the comment section? Absolutely on fire. One eagle-eyed poster dropped the actual ad link so everyone could judge for themselves, and the critiques came fast.
The loudest vibe is confusion vs. crusade. Several viewers say the ad is baffling even if you already know what a VPN is. “Strange ad for a VPN,” one summed up, asking if the message works without the controversy. Another commenter shared what they say is the approval board’s take: “The overall concept lacks clarity.” They also flagged references to serious crimes that made the ad too hot for TV. Meanwhile, some expected a punchier, activist-style stunt—more “Led By Donkeys” billboard slam, less moody metaphor.
But then the plot twist: feature drama. In the middle of the ad battle, a top-liked mood is: “Cool campaign… now bring back the old stuff.” One user cut through the noise with a plea to “bring back port forwarding,” a discontinued feature beloved by power users. It turned the thread into a two-fer soap opera: “Is this ad effective?” vs. “Can we get our toys back?”
So yes, the streets of London got a banned ad—but the real showdown is online, where fans are split between applauding the boldness, knocking the clarity, and demanding their favorite features back, preferably yesterday.
Key Points
- •Mullvad VPN states its TV ad was banned on British television.
- •The company says it took the ad to the streets of London instead of airing it on TV.
- •The video documenting this is 7 minutes and 21 seconds long and posted by Mullvad VPN.
- •The campaign is framed as opposing censorship and mass surveillance.
- •No details are provided in the post about why the ad was banned or by whom.