- The UK government has launched a consultation on children’s online safety
- Leading VPN companies confirmed their willingness to engage
- Companies say privacy needs to be considered during debates
Major VPN providers, including ExpressVPN, Surfshark, NordVPN and Windscribe, have signaled their readiness to engage in the UK government’s upcoming three-month consultation on children’s online safety.
The move follows a period of increased political scrutiny of the technology, including a controversial House of Lords amendment that proposed mandatory age verification for VPN users.
Representatives of the four VPN providers told TechRadar that they would be happy to take part in the consultation to help shape future policy, but that they had not yet been contacted.
The government is expected to publish specific guidelines for participation and further details in the coming weeks.
What is the consultation?
Last month, the UK government announced a three-month consultation to explore new ways to improve children’s safety online.
As well as discussions about social media use and “excessive doomscrolling”, the government will also hear from parents, technology companies and children about the role of VPNs.
The consultation has been criticized by the opposition, who argued that the government should act more quickly to introduce a ban on social media for under-16s.
Meanwhile, the House of Lords recently voted in favor of an amendment to the Child Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would effectively ban under-18s from using VPNs.
But as the government has a strong majority in the House of Commons, it is expected to vote down the ban in favor of its own evidence-gathering process.
This means that three months of consultation remains the most likely path for any final legislation. The process is expected to be completed by the end of the summer, after which the government will unveil its formal plan.
How has the VPN industry responded?
Most VPN providers adopted a diplomatic tone when asked about their potential involvement in the consultation.
Surfshark’s head of legal affairs, Gytis Malinauskas, said the company is “always open to constructive conversations with politicians”, while a NordVPN spokesperson confirmed it was “open to meaningful dialogue”.
An ExpressVPN spokesperson also said the company is “open to constructive conversations” with the government.
Windscribe CEO Yegor Sak struck a characteristically blunt tone. While confirming that he is prepared to engage in the process, Sak said: “We are willing to talk to them and educate them about the errors of their ways.”
Sak has previously described the push for age checks on VPNs as “the dumbest possible solution” to online security problems.
A ‘false dichotomy’ between privacy and security
Despite increased scrutiny in recent weeks, VPN providers are keen to highlight the importance and usefulness of their products to politicians.
Pete Membrey, ExpressVPN’s Chief Research Officer, noted the importance of ensuring that any new policy “balances online security with individuals’ fundamental right to privacy”.
The company also cautioned against “false dichotomies” that often frame these debates, noting that protecting privacy and improving security are not mutually exclusive goals.
Surfshark echoed that sentiment, suggesting that while it supports the goal of protecting children online, it’s critical that security discussions consider user privacy and data protection.
With many of the top VPNs now offering features specifically designed for families – including built-in parental controls and content filtering – providers are expected to emphasize how their products can be part of the solution, rather than just a tool to bypass age verification measures.
TechRadar will continue to follow the hearing as it develops.
