- UK government says VPNs may have age restrictions after three-month consultation
- New powers will give ministers the authority to implement rules more quickly
- It’s still unclear how VPN providers would technically enforce age controls
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 that it may “age restrict or limit children’s use of VPNs” if the tools are found to undermine online safety protections.
In a press release published yesterday, the government promised to “close the 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 attention remains focused on social media, the explicit mention of VPNs suggests that restrictions are increasingly likely to be applied to privacy tools.
Ministers are expected to table an amendment to the Schools and Child Welfare Bill that will give them the authority to “act quickly”. Any major measures (such as imposing age verification on VPN providers) will still need to undergo a final vote in Parliament before becoming law.
Critics sound the alarm
Before the latest government intervention, the House of Lords had already expressed its intention to restrict access to privacy tools. Peers approved an amendment to the Schools and Child Welfare Bill that would force VPN providers to introduce “highly effective” age assurance measures.
However, this amendment is expected to be repealed in the House of Commons in favor of the government’s three-month consultation.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” for a VPN ban.
The proposal has already been criticized by several prominent figures. Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales said it was “a disgrace”, while digital rights organizations warned that mandatory age checks could put “vulnerable people in immediate danger”.
UK-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 purpose of a technology designed to improve online privacy.”
The 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 online security. That’s precisely why we’re consulting to make sure we get it right: we want to hear from all stakeholders, including VPN providers and digital rights organizations, about how any measures can be targeted and proportionate.”
The department emphasized that the goal is to “ensure children have a healthy experience online” 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 emphasized that ministers are already consulting with parents and civil society groups. According to Kendall, the message from families has been “consistent and clear” regarding the need to act immediately.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed this sentiment, saying the government was “closing the loopholes that put children at risk and laying the foundations for future action.”
Despite government pressure for change, there appears to be a communication gap with technology providers.
Last month, TechRadar spoke with representatives from NordVPN, Surfshark, Windscribe, and ExpressVPN. All confirmed that they were open to dialogue with the government. However, the government had not contacted any of these major companies regarding the proposed restrictions at the time of the initial announcement.
The Prime Minister is due 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 emerge about the consultation and its impact on VPN access.
