- The UK government has launched a consultation on children’s safety online
- Major VPN companies confirmed they are willing to participate
- Companies say privacy should be considered during discussions
Major VPN providers including ExpressVPN, Surfshark, NordVPN and Windscribe have signaled their willingness to participate in the UK government’s upcoming three-month consultation on children’s online safety.
The move follows a period of increased political scrutiny over 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 join the consultation to help shape the upcoming policy, but had not yet been contacted.
The government is expected to release specific participation guidelines and additional 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.
In addition to 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, which argued the government should move faster to introduce a social media ban for under-16s.
Meanwhile, the House of Lords recently voted in favor of an amendment to the Schools and Child Welfare Bill that would effectively ban under-18s from using VPNs.
However, as the government has a strong majority in the House of Commons, it is expected to reject the ban in favor of its own evidence-gathering process.
This means the three-month consultation remains the most likely path to any final legislation. The process is expected to conclude by the end of summer, at which time the government will release its formal plan.
How has the VPN industry reacted?
Most VPN providers adopted a diplomatic tone when asked about their possible participation in the consultation.
Surfshark’s head of legal affairs, Gytis Malinauskas, said the company is “always open to constructive conversations with policymakers,” while a spokesperson for NordVPN confirmed it was “open to meaningful dialogue.”
An ExpressVPN spokesperson also stated that the company is “open to constructive discussions” with the government.
Windscribe CEO Yegor Sak adopted a characteristically direct tone. While confirming that he is prepared to participate 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 safety problems.
A ‘false dichotomy’ between privacy and security
Despite increased scrutiny in recent weeks, VPN providers are eager to highlight the importance and usefulness of their products to policymakers.
Pete Membrey, director of research at ExpressVPN, highlighted the importance of ensuring that any new policy “balances online security with people’s fundamental right to privacy.”
The company also warned against the “false dichotomies” that often frame these debates, noting that protecting privacy and improving security are not mutually exclusive goals.
Surfshark echoed this sentiment and suggested that while it supports the goal of protecting children online, it is vital that discussions around safety take into account user privacy and data protection.
Now that many of the best VPNs offer features designed specifically 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 simply being a tool to bypass age verification measures.
TechRadar will continue to follow the consultation as it develops.
