- UK government says VPNs could be age-restricted after three-month consultation
- New powers will give ministers the power to implement rules more quickly
- It remains unclear how VPN providers would technically enforce age checks.
Update: This article was updated on 16 February at 17:20 GMT to include an exclusive response from the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
The UK government has confirmed it could “restrict the age or limit the use of VPN by children” if the tools are found to compromise online security protections.
In a press release issued yesterday, the Government pledged to “close the gaps that put children at risk” by introducing powers to enable it to implement internet safety measures more quickly following its three-month consultation.
Although the focus remains on social media, the explicit mention of VPNs suggests that restrictions on privacy tools are increasingly likely.
Ministers are expected to table an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill which will give them the power to “act quickly”. Any significant measures – such as enforcing age verification for VPN providers – will still need a final vote in Parliament before becoming law.
Critics sound the alarm
Before the government’s latest intervention, the House of Lords had already signaled its intention to restrict access to privacy tools. Peers have passed an amendment to the Child Welfare and Schools Bill that would force VPN providers to introduce “highly effective” age guarantee measures.
This amendment should, however, be canceled in the House of Commons in favor of a three-month government consultation.
VPN restrictions remain a point of contention among politicians. Speaking to TechRadar last month, Labour’s Lord Knight of Weymouth – who opposed the Lords’ amendment – suggested that while the rhetoric is scathing, few politicians would be willing to “die in the ditch” over a VPN ban.
The proposal has already attracted criticism from several personalities. Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales said it was “an embarrassment”, while digital rights organizations warned that mandatory age checks could put “vulnerable people at immediate risk”.
U.K.-based civil liberties group Big Brother Watch called the plans a “draconian crackdown” and argued that forcing all VPN users to submit to age-guarantee measures “defeats the point of a technology designed to improve online privacy.”
Defense of the government
Responding to concerns raised by privacy advocates, a spokesperson for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) told TechRadar:
“We recognize that VPNs serve legitimate purposes, including privacy and online security. This is precisely why we are consulting to make sure we get it right: we want to hear from all stakeholders, including VPN providers and digital rights organizations, on how measures can be targeted and proportionate.”
The department stressed that the aim is to “ensure children have a healthy online experience” and will take “the best approach based on the latest evidence”. “The consultation will allow us to fully consider both the risks and benefits of these technologies for children,” the spokesperson concluded.
What’s next?
In yesterday’s press release, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall highlighted that ministers were already consulting parents and civil society groups. According to Kendall, the message from families has been “consistent and clear” regarding the need for immediate action.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed the sentiment, saying the government was “closing the gaps that put children at risk and laying the groundwork for further action”.
Despite the government’s efforts for change, there appears to be a lack of communication with technology providers.
Last month, TechRadar spoke with representatives from NordVPN, Surfshark, Windscribe and ExpressVPN. They all confirmed that they were open to dialogue with the government. However, none of these large companies had been contacted by the government about the proposed restrictions at the time of the initial announcement.
The Prime Minister is expected to provide more details on these measures this week, marking the start of a process that could fundamentally reshape the way VPNs are accessed in the UK.
We will continue to update this page as more details regarding the consultation and its impact on VPN access become available.
