- The UK government has confirmed it will not restrict VPNs
- Official data reveals that only 7-10% of teenagers use a VPN to bypass age checks.
- The government also announced social media curfews and autoplay restrictions.
The UK government has officially abandoned plans to restrict virtual private networks (VPNs) to enforce its looming social media bans, delivering a massive victory to digital privacy advocates.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast today, the Government confirmed a major U-turn on the subject, with Online Safety Minister Kanishka Narayan saying: “We have decided not to restrict VPNs. »
This was further cemented in a written parliamentary statement from Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, who clarified that the government will not impose age limits or ban top VPN software because “VPNs have legitimate privacy and security uses.”
The announcement lays to rest fears that sweeping age verification laws could inadvertently harm the online privacy of millions of adults.
Cybersecurity experts and privacy groups have previously warned that restricting these tools would be a disaster waiting to happen, prompting the industry to issue an open letter urging lawmakers to leave everyday privacy tools behind.
Privacy wins, but platforms face new rules
“We have decided not to restrict VPNs” Online Safety Minister Kanishka Narayan told #BBCBreakfast the government had decided not to restrict access to virtual private networks (VPNs) as part of a social media ban for under-16s, although it initially suggested it would take action… pic.twitter.com/pP94b81aeRJuly 15, 2026
Even though VPNs are safe from a blanket government ban, the social media ban loophole has not been completely ignored.
Kendall confirmed that it will now be up to social media platforms “to take strong action to detect and prevent attempts by underage users to circumvent age guarantee measures.”
To achieve this, the government has tasked Ofcom and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to report by October on how platforms can better detect and prevent the use of VPNs to circumvent age checks. The government also plans to collaborate directly with VPN providers regarding voluntary actions.
This shift in accountability aligns with recently published government research.
A report from the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) found that although 26% of young people aged 11 to 17 use a VPN, the results show that they do so mainly for privacy reasons.
Only 7-10% use them to bypass age checks, while 45% simply enter a false date of birth.
Midnight curfews and AI limits
While everyday privacy tools have been spared, the government continues to impose tough new rules to combat digital addiction – which online commentators already deemed “”ineffective and unnecessary” — with the first regulations coming into force in early 2027.
Following the blanket ban on social media for under-16s, new measures will ensure 16 and 17-year-olds do not face a sudden ‘cliff edge’ of addictive features. A government consultation found that almost one in three children actively want help to manage their screen time.
Under the new rules, older teens will be subject to a default curfew on social media from midnight to 6 a.m. Additionally, persuasive features like autoplay videos and custom infinite streams will be turned off by default to make it easier to log out.
“It’s about giving these older kids more choice and control over feeds and reducing the feeling that they can never stop being online,” Kendall said.
Protections also extend to artificial intelligence.
The government will require mandatory breaks for under-18s using AI chatbots to prevent emotional dependence. Additionally, lawmakers are working with health regulators, including the MHRA and DHSC, to consider banning therapy chatbots altogether if they provide unsafe or unverified mental health advice to minors.
