- MEPs call for the use of VPNs to be reviewed
- It is part of a wider debate about the challenges facing the online safety law.
- This comes days after the UK Lords proposed a ban on VPNs for children.
MPs are questioning whether VPN providers should be forced to implement age verification measures to prevent children from circumventing the Online Safety Act (OSA).
During a debate planned to discuss public opposition to the legislation, MPs used the opportunity to argue for stricter rules on VPN use.
Many Brits have turned to the best VPN apps since mandatory age verification was introduced in July.
Although evidence suggests the majority are adults seeking to protect their privacy online, lawmakers worry that children are using the software to circumvent restrictions intended to protect them.
“We will not hesitate to go further”
Peter Fortune, Conservative MP for Bromley and Biggin Hill, asked in the House: “Will [the Minister] Do you agree that for the Online Safety Act to be effective, the use of VPNs needs to be examined in more detail? »
Echoing Fortune’s remarks, Labor MP Jim McMahon argued that VPN companies should have a responsibility to prevent children from escaping controls. “Why aren’t VPNs covered by legislation to ensure they comply with age verification measures?” he asked.
“Presumably, it is more difficult for the end website to know the user’s origins if they have bypassed via a VPN. It is certainly the VPN company’s responsibility to comply with the law,” he added.
UK Minister for Digital Government and Data Ian Murray reassured lawmakers that the government was already taking action. As previously reported by TechRadar, Ofcom is currently monitoring VPN usage to assess how these tools are used.
“We will not hesitate to go further if necessary,” Murray said.
It’s unclear what other interventions might look like, although the debate has offered some clues. Julia Lopez, Conservative MP for Hornchurch and Upminster, said the government should consider “whether the age restriction should be applied more comprehensively, including to VPN use or through app stores or at the device level to close these gaps.”
This follows a decision by the UK Lords last week to table an amendment to the Child Welfare and Schools Bill that would ban VPNs for children. The proposal calls for VPN companies to verify the age of all UK users – a move Winscribe’s CEO called “the stupidest solution”.
While we wait to see how the debate evolves, the comments signal a growing push by lawmakers to regulate security tools intended to boost the online privacy of millions of Britons – adults and children.
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