- The UK government says VPNs can be age-restricted after three months of consultation
- New powers will give ministers the power to implement regulations more quickly
- It is still unclear how VPN providers would technically enforce age controls
Update: This article was updated on February 16 at 17:20 GMT to include an exclusive response from the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
The UK government has confirmed it may “age-restrict or restrict children’s VPN use” if the tools are found to undermine online safety protections.
In a press release published yesterday, the government pledged to “close loopholes that put children at risk” by introducing powers to implement internet safety measures more quickly after its three-month consultation.
While much of 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 Child Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would give them the power to “act swiftly”. All significant measures – such as enforcing age verification for VPN providers – will still face 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 limit access to the privacy tools. Peers passed an amendment to the Child Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would force VPN providers to put in place “very effective” age assurance measures.
However, this change is expected to be overturned in the House of Commons in favor of the government’s three-month 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 sharp, few politicians would be willing to “die in a ditch” over a VPN ban.
The proposal has already drawn fire from a number of prominent people. Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales said it was “an embarrassment”, while digital rights groups have warned that mandatory age checks could put “vulnerable people in immediate danger”.
UK-based civil rights group Big Brother Watch has called the plans a “draconian crackdown” and argued that forcing all VPN users to undergo age-proofing measures “defeats the point of a technology designed to improve online privacy.”
Defense of the government
In response 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 protecting privacy and security online. This is precisely why we are consulting to ensure we get this right – we want to hear from all stakeholders, including VPN providers and digital rights organisations, on how any measures can be targeted and addressed.”
The department stressed that the aim is to “ensure that children have a healthy experience online” and will adopt “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 stressed that ministers are already consulting with parents and civil society groups. According to Kendall, the message from families has been “consistent and clear” about the need for immediate action
Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed that sentiment, saying the government is “closing loopholes that put children at risk and laying the groundwork for further action.”
Despite the government’s push for change, there appears to be a communication gap with the 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 regarding the proposed restrictions at the time of the initial announcement.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to give further details of these measures this week, marking the start of a process that could fundamentally reshape how VPNs are accessed in the UK.
We will continue to update this page as more details about the consultation and its impact on VPN access emerge.
